MUMBAI, India – Honouring India’s efforts to rebuild infrastructure and its Rural Tourism economy after two natural disasters, Uttarakhand floods (June) and Cyclone Phailin (October) in the North East, struck the nation last year, the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) named India as the as the recipient of the ‘New Frontiers Award’ 2014. The Award is given to destinations that have overcome great adversity to bring much needed tourism back to their shores, and honors the strength and determination of the local people who work tirelessly to rebuild lives and communities following disaster as well as highlighting the crisis management capabilities of local tourism authorities. Devender Singh, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, received the award from Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of ATM, at a special seminar session.
Accepting the award, Singh said, “Tremendous effort is being made at all levels in terms of rebuilding tourism infrastructure in the affected areas, from state government activity to financial support from the Government of India. It will be a long-term process and we have only just started to get back to normal, but we are optimistic for the future.”
In addition to the crystal trophy, the New Frontiers Award comprises ATM exhibition space valued at USD 10,000 along with additional marketing support in promoting the outstanding tourism opportunities offered by the recipient nation.
The two disasters lead to significant fatalities and the displacement of more than 1.1 million people, which were further exacerbated by the destruction of entire communities and wholesale destruction of crops and farmland. “The people of Northern India were faced with widespread devastation last year in the aftermath of not one, but two life-changing natural disasters, with the Uttarakhand floods and Cyclone Phailin causing wholesale destruction in the space of just five months,” said Walsh. “It took monumental effort and sheer determination on the part of regional and national government, as well as by people in the affected communities and beyond, to start the rebuilding process and get the local economy back on track; and this collaborative effort embodies the spirit of the New Frontiers Award,” he added.
The panel at the session had last year’s recipient of the award, the Philippines, represented by Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., Assistant Secretary, International Tourism Promotions, Department of Tourism, providing an update on sector recovery and the outlook for the industry in 2014. Chile, winner of the award in 2012, represented by Jean-Paul Tarud, Ambassador of Chile to the UAE, and P K Ashok Babu, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of India, were on the interactive panel discussion.
A major Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative under the ATM brand, and 2014 being its ninth edition, the New Frontiers Award once again reinforced the overall focus of the programme, communicated under the theme ‘Recover, Repair, Rebuild’. “As well as acknowledging India’s efforts in tackling the immense challenge of rebuilding its agricultural as well as tourism infrastructure, this is also an invaluable opportunity for the industry to learn from the experience of past recipients such as the Philippines and Chile as they share their road to recovery stories,” remarked Walsh.
India was selected as the recipient of the New Frontiers Award 2014 by a panel of judges comprising industry professionals from across the globe. The award nominees also featured the Philippines (Central Visayas earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan) and Pakistan (Baluchistan earthquake), with all of them undertaking repair, rebuild and recovery progammes, with efforts still ongoing in some destinations.
