With a view to provide a fillip to tourism in Kerala, the State’s Tourism Department has commenced with the third edition of international painting competition which in the past has received overwhelming response.

It is open to children between four and 16 from across the world and the theme this year is “Kerala Village Life”. Registration for this competition is free and every participant can send a maximum of five entries.

Participants have to upload the scanned images of the paintings on the website www.keralatourism.org/contest/icpc/ from April 1 till September 30.

Like the previous years, the competition will be held in three categories. These are children within Kerala, children from other Indian States, and children from abroad. The competition will enable children to know about major tourist attractions of Kerala.

A total of 101 attractive prizes are offered by Kerala Tourism. In each category, the first three winners will be given special souvenirs besides certificates. Winners numbering 10 from abroad will get a free five-day stay in Kerala and an opportunity to visit the State’s top tourist destinations with two of their family members.

In the other Indian States category, five winners will get a five-day family trip to tourist destinations in Kerala. The three winners from the Kerala category will get booking coupons for a two-day stay at Kerala Tourism Development Corporation’s premium hotel, with two of their family members.

Apart from these, there are 70 consolation prizes for 20 children from abroad, 30 children from other Indian states, and 20 from within Kerala.

Those wishing to know more can visit contest@keralatourism.org or call on 70129-93589.