THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism virtually swept the National Tourism Awards 2015-16 by bagging six prestigious awards including the Best Responsible Tourism Project award for Kumarakom. The other five awards include: Hall of fame award for the ‘Most Innovative Use of Information Technology - Social Media / Mobile App’ (for the ninth consecutive year); Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Material for a film tourism brochure - Your Next Blockbuster Destination; Excellence in Publishing in Foreign language for “Reanimar – Enel Propio Pais de Dios (Spanish brochure)”; Best Civic Management of a Tourist Destination in Category C for Sarovaram Bio Park (the only eco-friendly biopark in the state promoting the conservation of mangrove forests and wetlands); Second runner- up in the category - Best State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism.
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the awards to tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The tourism industry, too, bagged three awards: Lotus Destinations won the Best Tour Operator Promoting Niche segments other than MICE and adventure; Vivanta by Taj, Kumarakom, the Best Hotel in the 4 star category; Somatheeram Research Institute & Ayurveda Hospital, the Best Wellness Centre.
