National Tourism awards 2011-12 announced
New Delhi, Mar 12 : Andhra Pradesh has bagged the best state award for comprehensive development of tourism in the rest of India category of National Tourism Award 2011-12, Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi announced today.
The Best Heritage city award has gone to Warangal (AP), while Amritsar Heritage Walk and Delhi Heritage Walk have been declared joint winners of the best Heritage Walk Award.
Announcing these Awards here, Mr Chiranjeevi said every year the categories of awards are reviewed with new categories being added to recognise excellence in diverse fields, in accordance with the requirements of changing times.
He said it is an ongoing endeavour of the Ministry to diversify the tourism products of the country by developing and promoting new niche segments, so as to attract different categories of tourists with diverse interests and promote India
as an all-year destination.
Keeping in with this thrust of the Ministry, new categories
of awards for 'Medical Tourism Facilities' and 'Tour Operators Promoting Niche segments' had been introduced in 2011.
The Minister said in an attempt to encourage States and Union Territories to adopt effective mechanisms for maintaining cleanliness at tourist destinations, a new Category for 'Best State: Campaign Clean India' was introduced in 2012.
New categories of awards for 'Best Heritage City' and 'Best Heritage Walk' were also introduced in 2012.
Dr Chiranjeevi said that recognising the importance of Cinema as a powerful tool for the development and promotion of destinations, the Ministry has instituted a National Tourism Award for 'Best Tourism Film'.