Kochi, Jan 6 (UNI) Revisiting the legendary Spice Route that once placed Kerala at the centre of global maritime trade and cross-cultural exchange, the three-day International Spice Routes Conference will commence here on Tuesday.
Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate the conference at the historic Bolgatty Palace at 10 am.
Organised by the Muziris Heritage Projects in collaboration with the Kerala Tourism Department, the conference is India’s first initiative of its kind and is envisioned as an intellectual and cultural platform reconnecting the ancient Spice Route with contemporary global discourse.
K. N. Unnikrishnan, MLA, will preside over the inaugural session, while Her Excellency Manal Ataya, Director General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, will be the chief guest. Hibi Eden, MP, and MLAs V. R. Sunil Kumar, E. T. Taison Master, C. P. Chitharanjan and H. Salam will be the guests of honour.
Kerala Tourism Secretary Biju K and Director of Kerala Tourism Sikha Surendran, who will deliver the welcome address, will also be present. The inaugural ceremony will feature the declaration of the Spice Routes Heritage Network, the announcement of the ‘Map My Heritage’ competition and the release of brochures titled Signature Trails and Heritage Walks.
Several dignitaries, including Sreedhanya Suresh, Additional Director (General), Kerala Tourism; D. Jagadees, Additional Secretary, Kerala Tourism; Sangeetha Viswanathan, Chairperson, Spices Board of India; Dinesan Vadakkini, Director, Kerala Council for Historical Research; E. Dinesan, Director, Department of Archaeology; and representatives from tourism, heritage and cultural institutions, will attend the event. Sharon Veettil, MD, Muziris Heritage Projects Limited, will propose the vote of thanks.
The January 6–8 conference will feature thematic presentations and technical sessions on subjects such as governing and sustaining transnational heritage corridors, heritage tourism and sustainability, reimagining spice routes for tourism, digital spice routes, Muziris reimagined and regional knowledge traditions.
The conference aims to explore new pathways for strengthening cultural and heritage tourism among countries across continents that once formed part of the famed global trade corridor. Long before modern trade networks and political borders emerged, ports along the Malabar Coast, particularly the ancient port of Muziris, served as vibrant hubs connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Designed as a multi-site academic and cultural event, the conference will include paper presentations, discussions, poster displays, art exhibitions, film screenings, performances and site visits.
Delegates will also experience curated heritage trails, traditional sea voyages, contemporary art engagements linked to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025–26, and performances such as Kerala Jewish songs and Chavittu Nadakam.
The event features partnerships with Aazhi Archives for photographic exhibitions and art shows and academic guidance by Prof. M. H. Ilias of Mahatma Gandhi University. Three photographic exhibitions and two major performances will be staged as part of the programme.
As many as 38 international delegates from 22 countries, along with national participants, are attending the conference. Participants include academicians, historians, archaeologists, diplomats, policymakers, tourism stakeholders, artists and cultural practitioners.
The conference seeks to present the Spice Route not merely as a trade network, but as a vast cultural ecosystem that shaped societies across continents, while also underscoring Kerala’s intent to tap into the growing global demand for high-value, experiential and culturally immersive travel.
For more details, visit: www.keralatourism.org/muziris
