Kerala Tourism won the coveted Responsible Tourism Global Award at London World Travel Mart on November 9, 2022, for its STREET Project. State Tourism Minister P A Muhammed Riyas accepted the award on behalf of the department. He said that the award will act as an encouragement for the Kerala tourism sector. P.B. Nooh, the tourism director, and K. Rupesh Kumar, the responsible tourism mission coordinator, were also present at the event

Known for its backwaters and popularly known as &lsquoGod&rsquos Own Country,&rsquo Kerala has been a famous tourist destination in India. From traditional houseboats to safaris and kayaking, the state forms the tropical Malabar coast by the Arabian Sea along the Western Ghats, having scenic palm-lined beaches. Keeping in mind the tourism sector, the Government of Kerala tries to come up with projects that promote tourism and preserve natural resources. STREET is also one such initiative.

STREET is an acronym for Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, and Tourism hubs, which was implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission under the Government of Kerala on March 31, 2022. The STREET Project is an initiative that promotes water conservation and protection with public participation. Under the project, the deepening and cleaning of canals and other water bodies take place to promote tourism, as Kerala is famous for its backwaters and also preserve the water bodies to be maintained in good condition.

In a video message that was shared by Riyas mentioned that the project received a special mention from the Jury for its implementation in Maravanthuruthu in the Kottayam district, where the banks of the water bodies are covered with Coir Bhoovastra to prevent soil erosion in monsoons. Coir is an eco-friendly soil cover made with coconut fibres.