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FICCI organises its maiden Travel & Tourism Excellence Awards
Aug 24, 2019
NEW DELHI, 24 August 2019: FICCI organised its first Travel and Tourism Excellence Awardsyesterday to promote the industry that serves as a major source of income, employment, private sector growth and infrastructure development.
A total of 41 awards in various categories like best heritage hotel, green hotel, hill resort, beach resort, 3/4/5star hotel, adventure tour operator, theme park, tourism mobile application, technology provider and online travel agency were given out.
Mr Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Minister, Tourism and Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Government of Odisha said, "We need everybody's cooperation to promote tourism in all the states of India so that the sector can bring revenue and generate employment in a bigger way apart from other earning sources."
Mr Panigrahi said that FICCI has been working with the Government of Odisha for realising the full potential of tourism sector in the state. The state government is building the required infrastructure and removing the shortcomings, he added.
"We need to unwrap Odisha in tourism sector and want a global footprint as Odisha gains recognition as one of the good tourism destinations. With 450 kms coastline, we can have adventure tourism, while we have best of the ecotourism and Buddhist tourism," he said.
Dr Jyotsna Suri, Past President, FICCI and Chairperson, FICCI Tourism Committee and CMD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group congratulated all the award winners and, along with Mr Panigrahi, felicitated the jury members including Jury Chairperson Mr Vinod Zutshi,former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
FICCI also launched the #exploreindia campaign to promote Prime Minister's vision which urges people of the country to visit at least 15 tourist destinations within India by 2022.
While Odisha Tourism won the 'Best Tourism Related Website', Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Odisha bagged the 'Best Eco Tourism Initiative'.
Mr JK Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group said that the state urgently needs at least another 5,000 rooms. He further said that the state government has announced Rs 500 crore package for development of Puri and its infrastructure for tourism.
He further stated that the state government has acquired 1,000 acres of land in different parts of the state to promote tourism. The state, which is trying to promote Odisha as a 21 nights destination, is organising Odisha Tourism Conclave on September 18.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad was adjudged the 'Best Heritage Hotel'; The Leela, Goa was awarded the 'Best Beach Resort'; Snow Leopard Adventures won the 'Best Domestic Adventure Tour Operator' award, MakeMyTrip (India) Pvt Ltd was the 'Best Online Travel Agency - B2C Category'; Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur bagged the 'Best 5 Star Hotel' award and The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar got the 'Special Recognition' award for serving the tourists without a single day closure in the valley since inception.
Some of the other recipients included Mr Narendra Singh Rathore (Jaipur) and Mr Satish Kumar Goswami (New Delhi) for contributing towards promotion of tourism as a guide.Special Recognition awards were given to Uttar Pradesh government for organising Kumbh Mela and Government of Gujarat for making the Statue of Unity.
The first edition of India Traveller magazine was launched during the event.
The awards ceremony was attended by various stakeholders in tourism sector along with senior officials from states and central government.
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