Kerala Tourism has emerged as one among the four winners at FITUR the second largest travel and tourism fair in Spain.
The Tourism Department has bagged the award in the destination category along with Mexico, Japan and Nepal, an official release said.
The event, attended by the Who's Who of global tourism sector, had an eye catching Kerala Tourism pavilion themed on the fabled snake boat race that proved a crowd puller among delegates.
A total of 9,500 companies from 165 countries are participating at the 36th edition of FITUR held from January 20-24.
A large number of visitors flocked to the Kerala pavilion, which was adorned by two replicas of the snake boats, making it one of the most-photographed pavilions at the FITUR.
The state pavilion, created with the stunning images of the boat races of Kerala, won the Best Stand award for design, communication and professionalism. "The award for our pavilion at the famed travel and tourism trade show is a huge honour for our state," said Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar who led the state delegation.
The award, which comes in the 'Visit Kerala' year, would certainly help the state achieve further growth in foreign tourist arrivals in the future, he added. The sprawling independent pavilion of Kerala Tourism built on a 60-square metre area, had participation from four co-exhibitors representing the state's private tourism and hospitality sector.
