The National Tourism Awards for 2008-2009 were presented at a function held on Saturday at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi by Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India.
The Minister of Tourism & Housing & Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja, presided over the function, and Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism was the Guest of Honour. This year, Andhra Pradesh Tourism bagged 6 National Tourism Awards for the year 2008-09, in the categories of Best State For Development Of Tourism Infrastructure, Special Award For Best Civic Management, Most Innovative Adventure Activity, Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course, Best Tourism Film Award and Best Convention Centre.
The awards were received by J Geeta Reddy, Minister for I&PR, Cinematography, FDC & Tourism, Culture, Archealogy & Museums, Archives; Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary Tourism; Sridhar, Vice Chairman, VUDA; Swarnjeet Sen, Chairman, APTDC; B Venkatesham, MD., APTDC.
The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority received a special award for Best Civic Management. The Innovative Adventure Activity special award was received for the tourism department's promotion of adventures sports, including rock climbing, rappelling, zorb ball, bungee, trampoline and archery. The award for the Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course was for the one being developed by Andhra Pradesh Tourism in partnership with Golf Association - a golf course with 18 holes in 200 acres of land near the Golconda and Qutub Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad.
The Best Tourism Film Award was received for a 30 second promotional films produced by the Department and developed by Mani Shankar for PATA, an event held in 2008 September at Hyderabad. Lastly, HICC received the award for the Best Convention Centre Category.