City Heritage at Global Responsible Tourism Meet 2026

Posted : 23-02-2026

Global Responsible Tourism Meet — Beypore (Feb 7–8, 2026)

On February 7–8, 2026, the historic port town of Beypore stood at the centre of a defining global moment as it was declared a Global Responsible Tourism Destination during the Global Responsible Tourism Meet organised by the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission under the Kerala Tourism Department.
Inaugurated by Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas, the meet reinforced Kerala’s steady emergence as a global model of sustainable and inclusive tourism. More than a ceremonial announcement, the declaration marked a strategic step in positioning Kerala as a hub of experiential tourism rooted in people, culture, and ecology.
Once a thriving maritime gateway linking the Malabar Coast with West Asia and Europe, Beypore has evolved into an integrated Responsible Tourism destination where heritage and livelihoods remain deeply interconnected. From Beypore port and Uru making yards to the Kadalundi bird sanctuary, the region’s layered history and ecological richness now shape immersive visitor experiences.

Local Responsible Tourism units, many of them women-led, have strengthened the grassroots economy through agriculture, fisheries, handicrafts, homestays, and micro-enterprises, supported by structured training, curated tour packages, multilingual digital brochures, and the formation of the first RT Club in the area.
The meet itself became a vibrant international platform for dialogue under the theme “Responsible, Resilient & Inclusive Tourism for a Sustainable Future.” Policymakers, scholars, and practitioners deliberated on sustainable and experiential tourism, heritage conservation, gender equity, barrier-free travel, climate change impacts, and responsible destination marketing.

The declaration of Beypore as a Global Responsible Tourism Destination, following the success of Kumarakom, represents far more than recognition—it signals Kerala’s continued commitment to sustainability, community empowerment, and inclusive growth. Through exhibitions of local products, cultural performances, and knowledge-sharing sessions, the event showcased how tourism can honour local identity while building resilience for the future. Global experts, including Harold Goodwin, participated in the event.

As the waves of the Arabian Sea met the Chaliyar River, Beypore’s journey from an ancient trading port to a living model of responsible tourism stood as a powerful reminder that the future of travel belongs to destinations that place communities and conservation at their core.
In that dynamic setting, City Heritage took its place among global voices.

City Heritage Brings Malabar’s Culinary Stories at Global RT Meet

On the afternoon of 7th February 2026, the hall for the session “Living Heritage and Responsible Tourism” came alive with voices that shaped Kerala’s cultural future. Organized by the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society under the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, the panel brought together policymakers, conservationists, artists, and heritage practitioners. Moderated by Rupeshkumar K, the discussion featured experts including Madhura Dutta, Oshan Lepcha, Sharon Veettil, and traditional artist Vipin Viswanatha Pulavar — each representing a unique strand of India’s living heritage tapestry.

Among them stood Muhammed Shihad, Founder Director of City Heritage, carrying with him the stories of Kannur’s soil, kitchens, and community spaces. In his role as Presenter, he used his brief but powerful speaking slot to shift the conversation from theory to lived experience. He spoke of heritage not as monuments frozen in time, but as traditions still practiced — in recipes passed through generations, in local narratives shared during guided walks, and in everyday cultural expressions like the humble Muttappom of Malabar.

He rekindled memories of Malabar’s culinary legacy — especially the layered richness of Mappila cuisine, an intricate blend shaped by centuries of maritime trade between the Malabar coast and the Arab world. Influenced by Arab, Portuguese, and native Malabari traditions, the cuisine carries within it stories of migration, adaptation, and matrilineal family pride. In many Muslim households of Kannur, women were not merely cooks but custodians of identity — crafting elaborate salkara feasts, perfecting spice balances, and welcoming guests with trays of snacks and steaming tea. Every dish was an archive of memory, where aroma and affection intertwined. Shihad reminded the audience that responsible tourism must honour these living kitchens — the unseen cultural institutions where history is preserved not in stone, but in simmering pots.

He spoke with particular affection about Muttappom — a soft, golden Malabar delicacy, crisp at the edges and tender within, gently sweet and fragrant with coconut and cardamom. More than a snack, it is a symbol of hospitality, often served with tea during heartfelt conversations. In 2016, City Heritage’s first professional collaboration took shape at a modest tea shop known as Muttappom Chaya Makkani — a space that kept tradition alive by serving Muttappam and other rare local dishes round the clock. That initiative was not merely about food; it became a quiet cultural revival. Young photographers, art students, and culinary enthusiasts were brought together to document these vanishing recipes, ensuring that flavours passed down through grandmothers’ kitchens would not fade into silence.

As the session unfolded, it became clear that City Heritage was not merely participating in a panel — it was representing a model of tourism rooted in respect, learning, and sustainability. From Kannur’s living culinary traditions to Kerala’s global Responsible Tourism platform, the journey reflected a larger truth: when local stories are told with authenticity and purpose, they resonate far beyond their place of origin. In that hour, City Heritage reaffirmed that responsible tourism is not just a policy framework — it is a living practice shaped by people, culture, and community pride — where even a simple Muttappom can carry the weight of history and the promise of the future.