Fort Kochi bags PATA heritage award

Kochi: Fort Kochi, the heritage destination near Keralas commercial capital, has bagged the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award for Heritage for the year 2002, outdoing 46 other renowned destinations from across the world.

The award recognises exceptional achievements in a variety of endeavours and bring acclaim to the best that the regions travel industry has to offer, according to the department of tourism.

The award will be presented during the five-day 51st PATA annual conference that will be held in New Delhi from April 15. The largest-ever international tourism conclave to be held in the country, the PATA conference is the first world event that will be held after the 11 September US events.

The old-world charm and the way in which Fort Kochi is maintained substantiate the undisputed calibre of Kerala, which is the only state to represent India at the awards, a department communiqu said. Kochi houses several important monuments. But, the old-world charm is best retained in Fort Kochi and Mattanchery.

Tourism director Alkesh Kumar Sharma says his department has evolved several initiatives to preserve and conserve the heritage of Kochi with a special attention to this area. Fort Kochi has already been identified for preservation and promotion as Keralas Heritage City. Efforts are also being taken to retain the same old-world charm, which had attracted foreigners since several centuries, for todays tourists.