UNESCO bats for ‘Spice Route’

Thiruvananthapuram: UNESCO has given its backing to Kerala Tourism’s ambitious plan to bring the ancient Spice Route back to life. UNESCO’s backing for the Spice Route Project initiated by the Kerala government came after two days of meetings and presentations at the UN agency’s headquarters in Paris last week.

The meetings were led by India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO Vinay Sheel Oberoi and tourism secretary Suman Billa.

Billa, who made a presentation on the Spice Route Project at the UNESCO headquarters on November 14, also met its Assistant Secretary-General (Culture) Francesco Bandarin and ambassadors of several countries that are part of the Spice Route.

Archaeological evidences from excavations carried out by the Kerala government in Muziris, near Kochi, have already given a huge boost to the Spice Route Project.

The excavations have pointed to spice trade between Muziris – a port that flourished two millennia ago – and the West, before it mysteriously disappeared. The Spice Route Project is aimed at sharing the heritage among the 31 countries along the ancient route.

The initiative is expected to bring in a substantial number of foreign tourists to Kerala to trace the historic journey.