THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Close on the heels of getting a gold award for its Responsible Tourism initiatives at the just concluded World Travel Market in London, Kerala has bagged another prestigious award – the Best Honeymoon Destination in India — at the 7th edition of readers’ choice India’s Best Awards hosted by magazine Travel + Leisure India & South Asia.
KeralaTourism Deputy Director Sreekumar received the award at a function held at ITC Maurya in New Delhi earlier this week. Kerala’s second award went to Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty which was declared the Best New Hotel (Domestic).
The third award for the state was secured by Kumarakom Lake Resort as the Best Destination Spa (Domestic). The winners were selected through online voting conducted through the website (iba2018.travelandleisureindia.in) over a period of three months (between August and October this year) during which time close to two lakh votes poured in.
Travel + Leisure India’s Best Awards recognises key players from the industry where readers cast their votes across various categories, such as top hotels, resorts, spas, destinations, airlines, cruise lines, and travel service providers. With 58 set of awards across different categories that range from the best country, emerging destination, cruise, business hotel, airport, destination spa, and honeymoon destinations in India and across the world, thousands of Travel + Leisure India & South Asia’s discerning readers voted robustly.
“The three awards are a huge endorsement of Kerala’s undiminished appeal as a tourist destination. This is one of many awards the state has gone in the last few months ,” said Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran. “Kerala has been a favourite destination of honeymooners and young tourists. This award is yet another confirmation of this,” according to Tourism Secretary Rani George.
Kerala Tourism Director P Balakiran said : “ It is a robust proof of the state’s readiness to receive tourists from India and abroad in the coming months.”