Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 6 ; Kerala Tourism has won the Conde Nast travel award for putting India on the global travel map.

The Excellence in Taking 'Brand India' Global Award, instituted this year, was presented to Kerala Tourism Director Ms Rani George at a gala ceremony in New Delhi attended by the Who's Who of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, an official press release said here today.

The new award category introduced by the prestigious international travel magazine in its travel awards recognizes the significant contribution by Kerala Tourism to the travel industry and its important efforts to put India on the global travel map. Government of India's Tourism Secretary Parvez Dewan, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation CEO and Managing Director Shri Amitabh Kant and ambassadors of Thailand, New Zealand and the Maldives were present at the ceremony of the Conde Nast Travel Awards 2012. Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Nasir Aslam Wani was also present.

The Indian Hotels Company Managing Director and CEO Mr Raymond Bickson, IndiGo President Mr Aditya Ghosh, Singapore Airlines General Manager (India) Mr GM Toh, Thomas Cook India Managing Director Mr Madhavan Menon, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts President Mr Rajiv Kaul, The Oberoi Group Executive Vice President Mr Kapil Chopra, writer William Dalrymple and senior media personality Vir Sanghvi attended the awards function held at The Oberoi hotel in Gurgaon.

Kerala Tourism Minister Shri A P Anil Kumar described the award as 'big recognition' of the state's sustained global campaign pitching God's Own Country as a 'must-see' destination in the world. 'With an abundant natural beauty, a pleasant weather and warm hospitality and services, Kerala has emerged as a world class tourist destination, representing the country well abroad,' he added. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Government of India's Tourism Secretary Shri Parvez Dewan, who was the Chief Guest, said: 'I feel that the Conde Nast Travel Awards have become the Oscars of the Indian travel industry.'

- Agencies