This is the first time India has won the recognition.

The state got the Ulysses award for its sustainable development initiative in the backwater resort of Kumarakom, acording to a Kerala Tourism release. The Ulysses award is for innovation in public policy and governance, the highest honour given to government bodies for shaping global tourism policies through innovations. The 'Responsible Tourism' project in Kumarakom linked the local community with the hospitality industry and government departments. It is claimed to be a model for empowerment and development of the local people for sustaining eco-friendly tourism.

The Kumarakom project had earlier won the National Award for Best Rural Tourism Project in March last year and the PATA Grand Award for Environment.

Last year the winner of the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance was the Ministry of Tourism of Malaysia for its Homestay Experience Programme. Other winners include Peru, Portugal and China. The UN award was instituted in 2003 for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, involving local population. The UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation was given in categories such as Public Policy and Governance, Enterprises and NGOs, Research and Technology. Two other categories – UNWTO Ulysses Prize and UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement - recognise individual contributions.

"We are humbled by the UNWTO's decision to confer this highest international award on our state," Kerala Tourism Minister AP Anilkumar told reporters. "It is a recognition of our continuing efforts to sustain global tourism, which can progress only if we consider the local community as our biggest partner," he added.