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India Tourism has won three important awards at the recently concluded World Travel Awards. The awards include Asia’s Leading Destination; Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction for Taj Mahal; and Asia’s Leading Tourism Board. The awards were received by Dr K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State with Independent Charge (I/C) for Tourism, Government of India. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, on his return from London, he said that these recognitions showed the growing importance of India as a tourism destination on the global stage.

Talking about his interaction with the Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, UNWTO, Chiranjeevi said that the UNWTO has consented to hold the next Regional Commission meeting for the South Asia, Far East and Pacific in India in April 2013. The meeting, the dates are yet to be confirmed, will be held in Hyderabad, the Minister added.

Unlike in the past, India had a separate pavilion at the WTM 2012, he said. In the past, India used to be mere exhibitor at the Asia pavilion. This year, India had an independent pavilion, with a larger exhibition area, the Minister said. Terming his own experience at WTM, the first international platform after assuming office, “wonderful”, Chiranjeevi said that he had fruitful interactions with international dignitaries as well as tourism ministers from countries like the UK, South Africa, and Mexico.