January 25, 2002

‘35’

    Shri Jagmohan, Minister for Tourism & Culture gave away the National Tourism Awards and Awards of Excellence – 2000-2001, to the various segments of the tourism and travel industry, here today. A total number of 30 awards were presented in the two categories – 17 National Awards and 11 Awards of Excellence in recognition of the excellent performance.

    The best Tourism Performing State Award was bagged by Kerala tourism. The State also got the most innovative use of Information Technology Award. Sikkim got the best Tourism Performing State Award in the North-east. Special Award for Efforts in Development and Promotion of Tourism was conferred on Uttaranchal. Hotel Ashok, New Delhi received the Award of Appreciation.

    In the categories of 5 Star Hotel, Taj View Hotel, Agra was declared winner while Rajvilas, Jaipur received the Award in the categories of 5 Star Deluxe Hotel. In the categories - Heritage Classic and Grand, Hotel Taj Garden Retreat, Madurai and Hotel Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur bagged the Awards respectively. Group of Temples Pattadakal, BADAMI, Karnataka begged award for best maintained tourism friendly monument.

    The Award of Academic Excellence was also conferred on the nineteen students of the Hotel Management Institute for their excellent academic performance during the year 2001.

    Presenting the Awards, Minister for Tourism & Culture, Shri Jagmohan said, after 11^th September’s incidence new challenges have emerged before tourism and travel industry, innovative ways would have to be adopted to overcome these challenges. The Indian Tourism Industry should give due focus to cultural aspects in its services and to make it unit selling point. He said private sector has a key role to play in the growth of both domestic and international tourism and create India’s image as favorite destination.

    Congratulating the awardees, Secretary, Tourism, Ms. Rathi Vinay Jha said that to put tourism in its right place in the area of national economic planning, the need to evolve greater partnership between the public and private sector has been realised.

    Mr. Peter De Jong, CEO, PATA delivered the Foundation Day lecture on "PATA’s View : Travel Trends for 2002 and beyond", on the occasion, he said that India along with China is emerging as an important market. "The liberlisation of your air services, the role of your vibrant mass media and the considerable impact of "Bollywood" means that India has a very promising future in the global tourism picture" he said. A detailed presentation on "eco-tourism" was held in view of year 2002 being proclaimed as the "International Year of Eco-Tourism and Mountains", by the United Nations.