New Delhi, September 28: India’s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad have bagged the best airports award under National Tourism Awards 2016-17. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport received the Best Airport Award in Major Cities category while Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport received the Best Airport Award in ‘Rest of India’ category for the promotion of Tourism at these airports. Cochin International Airport, World's '1st Fully Solar-Powered', Wins United Nations's Environment Award. 

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad is the Airport of India’s first World Heritage City. The two airports were conferred with the prestigious Awards at a glittering award function on World Tourism Day in the national capital on Thursday. Patna Airport to Get New Domestic Terminal Soon.

It must be noted that the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore is one of the busiest airports of Madhya Pradesh and is predominantly connected to major cities. The state-of-the-art integrated terminal building of Indore airport has world-class facilities and services. Indore Airport has been awarded the ‘Best Airport by Region’ among the airports handling under 2 million passengers per year in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the geographic location of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad makes it suitable for connectivity to major important international and domestic destinations. Ahmedabad Airport has risen to ASQ rating of 4.8 on the scale of 5.  The Airport was recently awarded the “Most Improved Airport” in the Asia- Pacific region for the year 2017 by Airports Council International.

The Ministry of Tourism presents National Tourism Awards to various segments of the travel and tourism industry every year. These awards are presented to State Governments / Union Territories, classified hotels, heritage hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, individuals and other private organizations in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promoting tourism.

Manoj Gangal, Airport Director, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad and Aryama Sanyal, Airport Director, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Indore along with Keshava Sharma, Regional Executive Director (WR) AAI, received the award from the Minister and Smt. Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.

Earlier this month six airports of India including Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune airports have bagged seven international awards. The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards 2017 were presented by the Airports Council International (ACI) at the Customer Excellence Global Summit at Halifax, Canada, on September 12.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2018 09:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).