Kerala Tourism’s pavilion themed as the Western Ghats turned out to be a huge hit at the World Travel Mart (WTM) held in London this week.
The four-day event that concluded this Thursday was attended by top state tourism officials and private players from the tourism industry of Kerala. The UK is the biggest market for Kerala Tourism.
Kerala Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, who led the Kerala business delegation, said the Western Ghats pavilion was spread over 120 sq metres and earned praises from the visitors for its breathtaking beauty.
“We were humbled by the remarkable response from the visitors to our state’s pavilion,” he said.
The theme of the Western Ghats, which has been included recently in the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites, is home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.
The Kerala business delegates who attended WTM included 16 co-exhibitors – resort owners, hoteliers and tour operators from the state.
“Kerala enjoys a privileged place on the map of global tourism and our pavilion was a must-visit for visitors to the WTM, London,” added Billa.
Earlier, Kerala Tourism stalls, built on themes like the backwaters, won many awards at travel and tourism fairs abroad.