Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India annually recognizes the achievers in the various segments of tourism industry honoring them with the National Tourism Award under different categories. These prestigious awards are the highest awards by the Government of India in the tourism industry. The National Tourism Awards for the year 2008-09 will be given away in February, 2010.

This year, Ministry of Tourism has instituted a new award for 'Best Civic Management of a Tourist Destination in India'. The objective of this award is to proactively involve the municipal authorities and getting their commitment towards eco-friendly, sustainable, clean hygienic and attractive surroundings in our cities, towns and villages. This would help in enhancing visitors' experience in India.

The award will be conferred on Best Performing Civic bodies in cities/Towns/Villages including Municipal authorities. Two winners will be decided from the nominations to be received from the Tourism Department of the State Governments. Two local bodies will be declared winners and their elected representative (Mayor/Pradhan/Adhyaksh) and Chief Executive Officer will be sent on a trip to Singapore / Malaysia to see the best practices being followed internationally so as to enable them to replicate the same in their own organization/local body.