Kerala in ‘World’s Unique Three’

'God's Own Country' is one among the best three destinations in the world, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Revealing this at a meeting in the state capital, the minister for tourism, K C Venugopal said that the destinations were selected as part of the 'Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2006'. This prestigious award showcases the world's leading examples of best practices in tourism development. The other two finalists are Rete's Culinary Sanctuaries, Greece and Sierra Gorda, Mexico.

The Council observed, "Kerala has long been a favourite destination in India and tourism is a vital source of income for the state. It is a catalytic agent for generating employment, an important source for earning foreign exchange, a vehicle for developing the environment as well as a valuable tool for preserving the state's culture and heritage. Sustainable tourism development in Kerala is driven by the Tourism Development Authority, which comprises public and private sector stakeholders. The state has framed a legislation for the development of tourism and is undertaking a wide variety of projects focussing on conservation, preservation, community development and raising awareness of the importance of responsible tourism development to both communities and visitors."

As the second phase of the judging process, Mandip Singh Soin, representative of 'WTTC/Tourism for Tomorrow' visited the state for on-site verifications. Soin evaluated the tourism potentials of Kerala including houseboats, backwater tourism, rural tourism, traditional art-forms, eco-tourism in wildlife sanctuaries and heritage city projects. He also held discussions with Oommen Chandy, chief minister, K C Venugopal, minister for tourism, E K Bharat Bhushan, principal secretary tourism, B Suman, director, Kerala Tourism and experts in the field. The awards will be presented at the sixth global Travel and Tourism Summit in Washington DC in April.