Kerala is third best for Asian holiday

Ashraf Padanna
Thiruvananthapuram: A global vote by readers of smarttravelasia.com has placed Kerala as the third best Asian holiday destination for the third consecutive year.
Bali in Indonesia stands first followed by Maldives, which shares the second slot with last year’s runner-up Phuket in Thailand.
Kerala is followed by Hong Kong (4th), Bangkok and Hoi An (5th), Boracay, Goa and Langkawi (6th), Chiang Mai and Palawan (7th), Angkor, Shanghai and Tokyo (8th), Dubai and Koh Samui (9th) and Penang and Rajasthan (10th).
This was revealed in the 2009 Best in Travel Poll by Smart Travel Asia – the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine which puts the spotlight on ‘aspirational” brands and travel trends.
Voters polled in 12 categories including Asia’s best business hotels, luxury resorts, spas, destinations, business cities, shopping spots, and the world’s best airlines and airports.
Describing Kerala as a favourite of the get-away-from-it-all crowd, the magazine says Kerala is known for its verdant rice paddy fields, cool mountains clad in mist-wreathed tea estates, beaches, and welcoming, literate, head-nodding population.
“After the chaos of Indian airports and the bedlam on the roads, Kerala is as a nourishing oasis of green,” said one voter.
“This democratic online poll offers unique insights into brand perceptions and revealed that Kerala is a dominant holiday brand for travelers,” said Kerala Tourism secretary Dr Venu V.
“Kerala has demonstrated that as a destination it has the integrity and authenticity to attract note only votes but also visitors”.
Last year, there was 16.11% increase in foreign tourist arrivals in Kerala while 14% more domestic holidaymakers chose Kerala compared to the previous year.
“This season is also looking like is another promising year with the domestic season showing a hike in numbers. The winter season, which is the main tourist season, is also looking good”.
The poll was conducted through May-July this year followed by tracking and elimination of inarticulate and orchestrated “block” votes, and attempts to “stuff the ballot box”, before the release of the poll results last week.