Kerala Tourism’s Barrier-Free Tourism Project has won global recognition with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) making a special mention of the south Indian state as an “Emerging Global Destination” in the Accessible Destination Awards 2019. Kerala Tourism Director P Bala Kiran received the conferment from UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili at the awards ceremony in Madrid.
In an effort at making 120 destinations across the state disabled-friendly, Kerala Tourism had launched the barrier-free project in March 2019. The disabled friendly project work has already been completed in the beaches of Azhikode & Snehatheeram, the hill destination of Vilangankunnu and the dams in Poomala and Vazhani in Thrissur district of Kerala. Under the ongoing major development projects the work is also being implemented in Chavakkad Beach, Peechi and Thumboormoozhi in Kerala.