UNWTO Chief to Attend Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2016

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

ISSUE: 267

NOVEMBER 2015

The famed Nehru trophy snakeboat race of Kerala has bowled over visitors at the influential World Travel Mart at London with UNWTO chief leading the list of those who have expressed their desire to watch this premiere water regatta of Kerala in 2016.

“I am fascinated by the story of the boat races and I would love to watch the action live in Kerala," said Mr. Taleb D. Rifai, Secretary General, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) after visiting the Kerala Tourism pavilion at the WTM, London, which was themed on the boat races of Kerala. “I will definitely be in Kerala next year to witness the boat race,” Mr. Rifai told the Kerala delegation to the WTM, led by Mr. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Secretary, Kerala Tourism.

“We are deeply encouraged by the endorsement of our famous boat races by the UNWTO chief at a significant global stage like the WTM. It underlines our status as a top tourism destination in the world” said Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, Minister of Tourism, Kerala.

“We are confident that the tremendous response to our tourism products at the WTM will contribute to the growth of foreign tourist arrivals in our State. As our biggest foreign market, the United Kingdom offers us the best possible global platform to popularize our destinations,” said Mr. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Secretary, Kerala Tourism.

The 120 sq m stand of Kerala Tourism drew a large number of visitors to the world’s leading travel and tourism show, attended by more than 5,000 exhibitors from nearly 190 countries.