Muziris Heritage Project should be marketed globally: Experts at Reimagining Keralam

Trivandrum / September 17, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 17: The Muziris Heritage Project (MHP), which showcases Keralam’s centuries old maritime heritage, should be packaged and marketed as an international tourism product, said experts at the ongoing Reimagining Keralam conference.

The round table conference on the topic, chaired by Dr. Manoj Kumar Kini, Managing Director, Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL) on the second day of Reimagining Keralam, deliberated on the scope of developing MHP as a global project, in view of its great potential to attract tourists from around the world.

Muziris has all the right elements to be nominated by UNESCO as a cultural landscape like the living root bridges in Meghalaya. The state government should work with the Centre to push for the UNESCO recognition of MHP, said Dr. Shikha Jain, Conservation Architect and Heritage Specialist.

An interactive and story-based museum like the Roman Villa Heritage museum in UK would be a model for the MHP project rather than a conventional museum concept, said Ar. Femke Bijlsma, partner and content developer at Amsterdam-based design firm Kossmanndejong.

 MHP is considered more as an archaeological site with academic interest rather than a tourist destination. So, the government needs to take steps to ramp up its tourism potential by introducing  activities like paddling and other adventure sports, said Dr Kini.

Dr B Venugopal, a Museum and Heritage expert, said the MHP should collaborate with marine institutions in Kochi to further explore the project’s scope of Marine and Maritime heritage.

Shri Shine KS, MD and CEO of MHP, made a presentation on the history and the recent initiatives to mark it as a tourism product.

The conference suggested that enhancing connectivity from Kochi to MHP region through boats or cruises, recreating Kottapuram market on Sundays with ‘Chavittunadakam’ performance and showcasing traditional art forms like Koodiyattam, Mudiyeetu and other cultural heritage associated with the region should be explored.

In another session on ‘National Pilgrimage Centres’, the participants  emphasised the importance of Integrated planning, improving infrastructure for visitors and better destination management for strengthening pilgrimage and spiritual tourism in the state.

Dr Kini, who chaired the roundtable, said nine pilgrimage circuits including Sabarimala circuit, Shiva temple circuit, Bhagavati temple circuit, Latin Catholic circuit, Islamic heritage circuit, Dashavatharam circuit have been identified and will be developed and integrated.

Dr. Bejene S Kothari, Urban Design and Pilgrim Circuit Expert, said that major pilgrim centres in Kerala need unique planning, better crowd management system, sustainable infrastructure  development and waste management practices.

In the case of Sabarimala, there needs a facility to hold pilgrims at Nilakkal and send them to Pamba in a controlled manner to avoid overcrowding at the Sannidhanam, she said.

Architect Shri Rajender Singh, an expert in Urban and Circuit Design, said there should be a curated itinerary in pilgrim circuits that could engage people of all ages as most pilgrim groups travel as a whole family including grandparents and children.

Shri Ravishanker, travel journalist, said Keralam’s temple festivals should be branded globally. Festivals in Uhtralikaavu, Ochira and Kottiyoor are visually enticing events that could attract foreign tourists, he said.

All the participants agreed on the idea to have an umbrella organization for the convergence of all departments for the timely implementation of projects and development regarding state’s pilgrimage tourism.

‘Reimagining Keralam’ is a three-day event featuring a series of Round Table Conferences (RTCs) to evolve the framework for fast-tracking the transformational projects announced by the State Government in its 2026-27 Budget.

ENDS