Kerala Receives PATA Gold Award for Tourism Marketing Excellence

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has been honoured with the PATA Gold Award 2025, recognizing the state’s outstanding efforts in attracting both national and international tourists. Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas received the award from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) during the award ceremony held alongside the PATA Travel Mart 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. The award was presented by Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, representative of the Macao Government Tourism Office, along with PATA Chair Peter Semone and the PATA CEO.

The award-winning campaign by Kerala Tourism utilized social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, reaching over 1.2 million people and generating more than 89,700 engagements. Minister Riyas said that, unlike traditional advertising, Kerala’s campaign model is a fresh model of tourism marketing in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting the state’s natural beauty, vibrant culture, and authentic experiences in a compelling and modern way.

This is not the first time Kerala has been recognized by PATA; the state has previously won this award, reflecting the continued impact and innovation of its tourism initiatives. Minister Riyas emphasized that such accolades highlight Kerala’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive tourism development. Kerala Tourism’s Additional Director (General), Sreedhanya Suresh, also attended the ceremony in Bangkok.

The award winners were selected by a panel of 25 experts, and Kerala made a strong presence at the PATA Travel Mart with its dedicated pavilion, inaugurated by India’s Ambassador to Thailand, Nagesh Singh. Business partners such as Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort and Trip n Stay Holidays were part of the pavilion, which also served as a platform for meetings with tour operators, outbound travel companies, and international travel publications.