Kerala Tourism receives PATA award for Thekkady

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism has been awarded for its efforts in making Thekkady, in Periyar National Park in the state, a top emerging destination in the world.

Kerala Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao received the Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Challenge 2015 award at a function held at the World Travel Mart (WTM), London on November 2, an official release said.

The award is in recognition of the pioneering responsible tourism undertaken in Thekkady by Kerala Tourism, it added.

United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Taleb Rifai was among those present at the award ceremony held on the opening day of the WTM.

Thekkady won the Top Emerging Destination award in the category for two-tier and three-tier cities while Albay in the Philippines received the award for regions/states/provinces.

"The award has given us the opportunity to showcase the new tourism products and packages developed in Thekkady under the responsible tourism projects to a global audience," Rao said.

The department had earlier won the National Tourism Award for 2015 for its innovative Responsible Tourism project in Thekkady.