MP, Gujarat bag top tourism awards

President Pranab Mukherjee presented National Tourism Awards in different segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry for the year 2013-14 at an event here which was attended by Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma, senior ministry officials and representatives of states and various stakeholders of the sector.

Madhya Pradesh bagged a total six awards in different categories including ‘Best Maintained and Disabled-Friendly Monument’ for Bhojpur Temple. It also got <g data-gr-id="17">award</g> for tourist- friendly railway station at Habibganj. The Tourism Ministry annually presents National Tourism Awards to States and Union Territories, classified hotels, heritage hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, individuals and other private organisations in recognition of their performance in their respective fields.

Besides bagging the Best State Award for Comprehensive Development of Tourism, Gujarat also got three more awards - Best Rural Tourism Project for Rann Utsav, Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Material for ‘Gujarat’s 50 Golden Destinations’ coffee table book, and Best Film Promotion Friendly State. Sharma said, “India has got <g data-gr-id="18">vast</g> scope of tourism as we have eco-tourism, desert tourism, hill tourism, rural tourism and many other schemes.”