Kochi: The Kerala government has bagged six awards of excellence for `outstanding performances' in various tourism segments, including the best marketed and promoted state, during the year 2004. Besides, it also received the national award for the best four-star hotel, which went to Taj Garden Retreat, Varkala.

union tourism minister Renuka Chaudhry presented the awards to Kerala Tourism's principal secretary E K Bharat Bhushan and state tourism director B Suman at a function held in New Delhi.

While the East Fort Heritage Area was adjudged the best maintained tourist-friendly monument, `A day with the masters', a package tour of Kerala Kalamandalam, the seat of Kerala's art and culture, won the most innovative tourism project award. Kerala tourism's brochure `Life in a new light' won the award for the best promotional literature and `Panchakarma', a book on ayurveda was chosen for the best publishing award. The best audio-visual award was for `Symphony Celestial', a VCD on classical art forms.

"This outstanding achievement would not have been possible but for the trade, who in addition to creating innovative products and services, worked closely with the government in marketing and promoting the destination,'' said Kerala's tourism minister K C Venugopal said.

Bharat Bhushan said the awards were a tribute to Kerala Tourism's stress on sustainable development of tourism and its focused promotional strategies.