<p>Kerala has bagged the "Best Green Destination" prize at India's Best Awards for 2013, officials said Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kerala also picked up the "Best Indian State" prize at the awards presented by the Travel + Leisure South Asia magazine for the world's top tourism and travel destinations and services.<br /><br />The awards were presented by Portugal's ambassador to India Jorge Roza de Oliveira in New Delhi Monday.<br /><br />In its third year, India's Best Awards are given on the basis of an online readers' poll conducted over five months.<br /><br />In January, Kerala Tourism had won the UN World Tourism Organisation's (UNWTO) Ulysses Prize for sustainable tourism, the first such prize for an Indian tourism board.<br /><br />Last month, Kerala Tourism bagged the Golden City Gate gold award of ITB-Berlin, the world's leading tourism and travel trade event, for its print media campaign on the backwaters.<br /><br />Kerala had also won four top prizes at the National Tourism Awards for 2012-13."It is a significant award for Kerala because we are committed to preserving nature and respecting our cultural heritage and local communities," said Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar.<br /><br />"'Responsible Tourism' is the guiding philosophy and policy of Kerala Tourism," said Kerala Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, who received the two awards.</p>
<p>Kerala has bagged the "Best Green Destination" prize at India's Best Awards for 2013, officials said Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kerala also picked up the "Best Indian State" prize at the awards presented by the Travel + Leisure South Asia magazine for the world's top tourism and travel destinations and services.<br /><br />The awards were presented by Portugal's ambassador to India Jorge Roza de Oliveira in New Delhi Monday.<br /><br />In its third year, India's Best Awards are given on the basis of an online readers' poll conducted over five months.<br /><br />In January, Kerala Tourism had won the UN World Tourism Organisation's (UNWTO) Ulysses Prize for sustainable tourism, the first such prize for an Indian tourism board.<br /><br />Last month, Kerala Tourism bagged the Golden City Gate gold award of ITB-Berlin, the world's leading tourism and travel trade event, for its print media campaign on the backwaters.<br /><br />Kerala had also won four top prizes at the National Tourism Awards for 2012-13."It is a significant award for Kerala because we are committed to preserving nature and respecting our cultural heritage and local communities," said Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar.<br /><br />"'Responsible Tourism' is the guiding philosophy and policy of Kerala Tourism," said Kerala Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, who received the two awards.</p>