World Tourism Day: Karnataka to present tourism awards on September 27

Karnataka Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George. | Photo Credit: File photo In a first, the State Tourism Department will present the Karnataka Tourism Awards 2026 to recognise outstanding organisations, entrepreneurs and individuals across Karnataka’s tourism ecosystem, said Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George.“The awards are being instituted by the Department of Tourism in association with the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS) to recognise excellence in service quality, innovation, sustainability and community participation,” the Minister said.Aligned with Karnataka Tourism’s ‘One State, Many Worlds’ brand philosophy, the awards will recognise achievements from all 31 districts of Karnataka. Eligible hotels, resorts, tour operators, registered homestays, tourism service providers, start-ups, technology companies and individuals can submit nominations until September 17, 2026. The awards will be presented in Bengaluru on September 27, which is World Tourism Day.Karnataka Tourism Society president K. Syama Raju said the initiative aims to create a credible, merit-based platform to recognise excellence in the travel and hospitality sector while encouraging higher service standards across the State.The 35 awards have been instituted across five categories: Accommodation and Hospitality; Tour Operators and Travel Agents; Events, Venues and Infrastructure; Education, Publications and Individuals; and Sustainability and Rural Tourism.Meanwhile, Ram Prasath Manohar, Secretary, Department of Tourism, said the objective is not only to recognise good work but also to establish clear benchmarks for quality across the tourism sector.“The award categories have been designed to provide equal opportunities for large hospitality players as well as homestays, rural tourism initiatives, guides, local entrepreneurs, start-ups and sustainable tourism projects,” he said.Merit-based evaluationAs per the details shared by the department, an independent screening committee comprising industry leaders, domain experts and relevant representatives will evaluate the nominations.Entries will be assessed on parameters including service quality, visitor experience and feedback, innovation, environmental sustainability and contribution to local communities. The process is intended to ensure transparency, credibility and merit-based recognition.Eligible stakeholders can send their entries through http://www.karnatakatourismawards.com. Published - September 08, 2026 07:29 pm IST