<p>The reigning Miss World, Ksenia Kukhinova of Russia, presented the award to India's Tourism Minister, Kumari Selja at a gala function held at the Grosvenor House here.<br /><br />Selja, who is here to participate in the World Travel Market, also received the Asian Guild Award for promoting the 'Incredible India' campaign at a function held at the House of Lords last evening.<br /><br />The Award and Fellowship of the Asian Guild was presented to her by Lord Peter Archer of Sandwell.<br /><br />The Guild also bestowed the Fellowship on Jagdish Chander, Director, India Tourist Office here for his "hard work to carry out the conviction of Incredible India Campaign in the UK.<br />"Suresh Joshi, Joint Director General of the Asian Guild, said "Incredible India has enriched the status of the Asian in British Society by broadening the tradition and culture of India.<br /><br />Shelja said "Incredible India initiative was conceived in the year 2002, when we decided to brand the country as a unique, vibrant and inclusive identity.<br /><br />"Through this branding, an attempt was made to create a distinct image for the country." <br /><br />Shelja noted that there was no doubt that the Incredible India initiative has positioned the country in the mind of the discerning traveller and thus played a major role in the growth of tourist arrivals to the country as well as foreign exchange earnings from tourism.<br /><br />"It has also re-enforced interest in the country and contributed in generating awareness about India among the younger generations."<br /><br />The successful campaigns have created a sense of pride amongst the communities of Indian origin residing in different parts of the world, including the UK.<br /><br />The minister said that India was also working to improve the facilities and services at important tourism destinations.<br /><br />"We have taken initiatives to develop new tourism products such as wellness, adventure and rural tourism, which offer the visiting tourist a rejuvenating and enriching experience," she said, adding all out efforts would be made to position India as the leading tourism destination in the world.</p>
<p>The reigning Miss World, Ksenia Kukhinova of Russia, presented the award to India's Tourism Minister, Kumari Selja at a gala function held at the Grosvenor House here.<br /><br />Selja, who is here to participate in the World Travel Market, also received the Asian Guild Award for promoting the 'Incredible India' campaign at a function held at the House of Lords last evening.<br /><br />The Award and Fellowship of the Asian Guild was presented to her by Lord Peter Archer of Sandwell.<br /><br />The Guild also bestowed the Fellowship on Jagdish Chander, Director, India Tourist Office here for his "hard work to carry out the conviction of Incredible India Campaign in the UK.<br />"Suresh Joshi, Joint Director General of the Asian Guild, said "Incredible India has enriched the status of the Asian in British Society by broadening the tradition and culture of India.<br /><br />Shelja said "Incredible India initiative was conceived in the year 2002, when we decided to brand the country as a unique, vibrant and inclusive identity.<br /><br />"Through this branding, an attempt was made to create a distinct image for the country." <br /><br />Shelja noted that there was no doubt that the Incredible India initiative has positioned the country in the mind of the discerning traveller and thus played a major role in the growth of tourist arrivals to the country as well as foreign exchange earnings from tourism.<br /><br />"It has also re-enforced interest in the country and contributed in generating awareness about India among the younger generations."<br /><br />The successful campaigns have created a sense of pride amongst the communities of Indian origin residing in different parts of the world, including the UK.<br /><br />The minister said that India was also working to improve the facilities and services at important tourism destinations.<br /><br />"We have taken initiatives to develop new tourism products such as wellness, adventure and rural tourism, which offer the visiting tourist a rejuvenating and enriching experience," she said, adding all out efforts would be made to position India as the leading tourism destination in the world.</p>
