The famed snake boat race of 'God's Own Country' has bowled over visitors at the influential World Travel Mart in London, with the United Nations global tourism body chief leading the list of those who want to watch the Nehru Trophy event next year.
"I am fascinated by the story of the boat races and I would love to watch the action live in Kerala," United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb D Rifai said after visiting the Kerala Tourism pavilion at the ongoing WTM, London themed on boat races of the state.
"I will definitely visit the boat race next year,"he told the Kerala delegation to the WTM, led by Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao.
"We are deeply encouraged by the endorsement of our famous boat races by the UNWTO chief at a significant global stage like the WTM," said Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar. "It underlines our status as a top tourism destination in the world," he added.
"There is no better way to showcase our culture to a global audience than presenting our boat races, which are closer to the heart of the people of Kerala', said Kumar.
The tourism department's 120-sq meter stand 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. WTM, London, is being held from Nov 2 to 5.
Three replicas of the snake boat adorn the Kerala Tourism stand, one of the most-photographed pavilions at WTM, created with stunning images of the boat races of the state.
"It's a beautiful stand with the long snake boats," the UNWTO Secretary General said while confessing his plans to visit Kerala next year.
The boat race themed stand of Kerala Tourism was a major attraction on the opening day of the WTM.
"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 in the coming months," Rao said.
India Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi launched the brochure featuring Kerala's boat races at the WTM.
"As our biggest foreign market, the United Kingdom offers us the best possible global platform to spread awareness about our destinations," Rao added.
Last year, Kerala had received 151,497 travellers from the United Kingdom.
In 2013, British royal couple,Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles had visited Kerala,watching Kathakali in Kochi and celebrating the 65th birthday of the Prince of Wales at the backwaters resort of Kumarakom.
Among prominent British visitors to Kerala include Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney.
Kerala Tourism is joined by as many as 10 private sector exhibitor-partners at the WTM London event.
