Kerala Tourism gets PATA Award for Muziris Heritage Project

The Kerala Tourism has bagged this year's Pacific Asia Travel Association award for its Muziris Heritage Project in the 'Heritage & Culture' category.
The award, sponsored by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), went to the Muziris Heritage Project for its conservational efforts, uniqueness and impact on local community, a press release said.
"This award is in recognition of the Muziris project aimed at restoring the historical and cultural significance of the ancient town that stretches across North Paravur in Ernakulam to Kodungalloor in Thrissur," State Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar said.
"The flagship project of the government of Kerala is one of the biggest heritage conservation projects of modern India."

Supported and sponsored by MGTO for the past 20 years, this year's PATA Grand and Gold Awards recognise the achievements of 25 separate organisations and individuals.
"Being part of the Spice Route Project, which is supported by UNESCO, the Muziris project already has a key status on the cultural tourism map," Kerala Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao said.

The award further highlights its stature in international heritage tourism, he added.
There were 269 entries from 83 organisations and individuals worldwide for this year's award, the highest tally since 2007. The awards will be presented on September 8 at PATA Travel Mart in Bengaluru, the release said.

"The list of PATA Gold Awards 2015 winners unveils once again the very best of Pacific-Asia tourism practices," said MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.
Tourism Director P I Sheik Pareeth said the PATA award acknowledges Kerala Tourism's excellence in heritage conservation.
PATA had honoured Kerala Tourism for the Responsible Tourism initiative at Kumarakom and its popular e-Newsletter in 2014.