Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 10 (IANS): The Kerala pavilion, portraying a slice of the pristine beauty of God's Own Country, bagged the best stall award at the prestigious World Travel Market 2011 in London.

Kerala Tourism, which set up the huge pavilion, spread over 117 sq m on the theme 'Backwater with Chinese fishing net', won the prize in the category of Best Stand Feature.

The pavilion by Kerala is the biggest of the kind by any state from India at the four-day WTM which started Nov 7. Kerala tourism is the lone state destination to win the best stand award while all other winners were national boards and international destinations, an official statement said here.

Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar, who is leading the Kerala contingent at the event, said they are glad that they could present a slice of Kerala through this pavilion.

"It is a recognition for our efforts and a big push to our future endeavours on the marketing front," said Kumar.

Capital city-based Stark Communications Pvt. Ltd had conceived and designed this stand which had won the award for best international stand at FITUR, Madrid in January this year.