Kerala Tourism has won the ‘Golden City Gate’ award, the gold prize at ITB Berlin for its print campaign on the backwaters, as per a release. This is the second major international award for Kerala Tourism in the last two months. Presented every year at the ITB Berlin fair, the Das Golden Stattdor or the Golden City Gate Awards are considered the ultimate recognition in global tourism communication. The award ceremony is held under the patronage of the German Federal Association of Film and Audio-Visual Producers. This is the first time that Kerala Tourism has won the gold in the print category. Malaysia Tourism had won the award last year. The Golden City Gate Awards are presented in the print, film and media categories and assessed by an international jury.
“We are truly honoured by this remarkable recognition from the world’s biggest travel trade show,” said A P Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kerala. “The top award at Berlin demonstrates the significant place of Kerala’s beautiful backwaters among the most important destinations in the world,” he said adding, “This is recognition for the Kerala brand.”
“It is a huge achievement for Kerala and a major boost to the state’s reputation as one of the top tourism destinations in the world,” said Suman Billa, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Kerala who received the award on behalf of Kerala Tourism. “The award shows the important place of our backwaters on the global tourism map,” he added.
Kerala Tourism’s print campaign titled ‘The Great Backwaters’ was launched late last year. The campaign presented the backwaters of Kerala, stretching from one end of the state to the other, as a single destination and a once-in-lifetime experience for the traveller.
S Harikishore, Director, Kerala Tourism hailed the award as an endorsement of the continuing efforts of the Tourism Department in showcasing the vast tourism potential of the state. “It is our objective to present our distinguished visitors with the best in the world in terms of variety, originality and creativity,” he added.
The Kerala Tourism stall at the ITB-Berlin this year, which was also based on the Great backwaters campaign theme. The Kerala stand featured installations of narrow canal with water, country boats, walking bridge, etc. which attracted thousands of visitors. The Kerala Tourism delegation, led by Billa, comprised 19 co-exhibitors, namely Abad Hotels, Coconut Bay, Dune Eco Group, Kumarakom Lake Resort, Eastend Hotels and Resorts, Neeleshwar Hermitage, Nikki’s Nest, Poovar Island Resort, Thomas Hotels and Resorts, Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel and Spa, Dravidian Trails, Jayasree Travels and Tours, Intersight Tours and Travels, Spiceland Holidays, The Travel Planners, Carnoustie Ayurveda and Wellness Resort, Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort, Nattika Beach Ayurveda Resort and Vaidya Sutras.
In January, Kerala Tourism had won the United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO) Ulysses Prize, the first for India, for excellence and innovation in tourism. Last month, it had dominated the National Tourism Awards for 2012-13, winning four top prizes.
Kerala Tourism wins ‘Golden City Gate’ award at ITB Berlin for The Great Backwaters print campaign
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