Kerala State tourism awards announced

State tourism awards announced

The Kochi-based Lotus Destination has been named the best inbound tour operator and Riya Holidays the best outbound tour operator for 2012-13.

Announcing the Kerala State Tourism Awards here on Wednesday, Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar said the winners were chosen by a committee chaired by the Tourism Secretary from a preliminary list prepared by a panel of experts.

Vivanta by Taj – Malabar was selected the best 5-star deluxe hotel; Kumarakom Lake Resort in Kottayam the best 5-star hotel; Udaya Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel in Kovalam the best 4-star hotel; Marari Beach Resort in Alappuzha the best 3-star hotel, and Coconut Lagoon in Kumarakom the best heritage hotel.

The award for the best ayurveda centre went to the Somatheeram Ayurveda Beach Resort in Kovalam and the best homestay award went to the capital-based Graceful Homestay. Alappuzha Rainbow Cruise was named the best houseboat operator.

P. Subramanian of the Alappuzha Marari Beach Resort was judged the best hotel manager. K.C. Krishnakumar, chief sub-editor at Mathrubhumi ( Yathra , Kozhikode) got the award for the best tourism reporting and B. Muralikrishnan, Mathrubhumi chief news photographer, and the Kochi-based Ajosh Parakkan won the best tourism photography award.

courtesy-The Hindu