Tourism and Public Works Minister PA Mohamed Riyas accepted the award at the PATA ceremony held in Bangkok on August 27. The award was presented by PATA Chair Peter Semone, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and Maria Helena De Senna Fernandes from the Macao Government Tourism Office.
The annual PATA Gold Awards, held this year alongside the PATA Travel Mart at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, recognised excellence in the travel and tourism sector across the Asia-Pacific region. Winners were selected by a jury of 25 independent experts.
“Kerala Tourism’s efforts to engage domestic and international tourists on the diversity of Kerala’s tourist destinations through innovative and trending online content has yielded a massive response and this award is a shining recognition of our efforts in that direction,” Riyas said after receiving the award.
He noted that Kerala has previously been honoured with the award, which celebrates sustainable and inclusive tourism initiatives.
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The state’s award-winning campaign, based on memes and digital storytelling, combined humour and cultural references to generate high levels of online interaction. Officials said the approach turned tourism promotion into a two-way conversation, while showcasing Kerala’s natural beauty and traditions.
Also present at the ceremony was Sreedhanya Suresh, Additional Director (General), Kerala Tourism. Earlier in the day, the Kerala Pavilion was inaugurated by India’s Ambassador to Thailand, Nagesh Singh.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate a two-day Global Skill Summit in Kerala, which will redefine the state’s role in shaping the discourse on skills, education and the future of work.
The summit, scheduled for August 29-30 in Kochi, is being organised under the guidance of the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), according to an official release.
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The event will bring together global experts, industry leaders, academics and policymakers to explore how Kerala’s human resource strengths can be transformed into a driver of innovation and economic growth.
“The state, long celebrated for its achievements in literacy, healthcare and human development, is now positioning itself as a global hub for skilled talent. Skill Kerala Global Summit in Kochi is not merely showcasing its achievements but is setting out a clear vision for a future where skills, knowledge and innovation will define prosperity,” a release said.
A key highlight will be the launch of the LinkedIn Kerala Talent Report 2025, a first-of-its-kind study providing insights into the state’s talent base, employability trends and global reach.
The summit will feature prominent speakers including SD Shibulal, former CEO and co-founder of Infosys; Santhosh Mathew of the Gates Foundation; Raimund Klein, founding CEO of the International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT); Tom Bewick, Professor of Skills and Workforce Policy, UK; and Megan Lily of Jobs and Skills Australia.
