Kerala Tourism was bestowed the top Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Award for heritage conservation in an honour that highlights the state’s trendsetting efforts in reinventing the millennia-old Spice Route heritage. The international award, which recognises excellence and innovation in global tourism practices, was presented to Kerala Tourism at a glittering awards ceremony held during PATA Travel Mart in Bangalore.
Kerala Tourism was awarded the PATA Gold in the Heritage and Culture category, honouring the state tourism department’s leadership in carrying out the Muziris Heritage Project.
“We are humbled by this huge honour for our state. The award is an acknowledgement of the initiative to bring back our tradition and history for the sake of the modern generation and through it achieve the goal of growth and development for our people,” said Kerala Tourism Minister AP Anilkumar.
“Muziris Heritage Project is a mammoth conservation undertaking never before attempted in our country in recent times in terms of its size and scale,” he added.
Kerala Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao received the award at the ceremony held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre during the PATA Travel Mart. “The Muziris Heritage Project is a vital element in the restoration of the historical Spice Route led by Kerala Tourism and supported by the Central government and international organizations like UNESCO,” Rao said.
“The revival of the rich cultural heritage of Spice Route, which occupies a vast geographical area from Kerala to countries in Asia Africa, Europe and the Far East, will play a significant role in cultural tourism in the world,” he added.
PATA had earlier honoured Kerala Tourism for its Responsible Tourism initiative in Kumarakom and Kerala tourism’s popular e-Newsletter in 2014.
