Kerala unveils Muziris Heritage Project to boost educational tourism

Another MoU with Mahatma Gandhi University is in the final stages, paving the way for specialised programmes in Heritage Interpretation, Museum Management, Art & Community-Oriented Tourism, and Sustainability & Heritage Studies.

Kerala Tourism’s project on Muziris, an ancient bustling port city on the Malabar coast and the hub of international Spice Route, is said to be fast shaping up as educational tourism with enormous potential for collaborations with academic and cultural institutions in India and abroad.

The Muziris Heritage Project, billed as one of India’s largest heritage conservation initiatives with support from the Central and state governments as well as the UNESCO, has already inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sree Narayana Guru Open University to launch a string of short-term courses. 

Another MoU with Mahatma Gandhi University is in the final stages, paving the way for specialised programmes in Heritage Interpretation, Museum Management, Art & Community-Oriented Tourism, and Sustainability & Heritage Studies.

Efforts are also underway to collaborate with international universities and cultural institutions, which will facilitate research opportunities besides attracting students from other India states and abroad. The enthusiastic response to the initiative is evident — the programme’s fourth batch was fully booked soon after its September launch.

Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas said, “The Muziris project is not only about heritage conservation. In fact, the objective is to ensure the emergence of Muziris into a hub of creativity and excellence in art and cultural learning. We have made plans to establish a permanent art auction centre, turning the region into a year-round meeting point for artists — extending the spirit of the Biennale beyond Kochi.”

Under the Muziris Heritage Project, 108 projects have already been completed, ranging from heritage building restorations to modern infrastructure development. Excavations have unearthed remarkable evidence connecting Muziris to civilizations across the globe.