City Heritage Fuels the Future of Malabar Tourism at MTM 2025

Posted : 01-11-2025

The Malabar Tourism Meet (MTM) 2025, promoted by the Malabar Tourism Council (MTC), was more than just a conference; it was a resounding declaration of intent for one of Kerala's most culturally rich regions. Held in Kozhikode, the event brought together the tourism fraternity, setting a confident path forward for Malabar.

As a dedicated curator of culture and history with a decade-long passion for heritage storytelling, the entire City Heritage team was thrilled to be a key participant. Our presence at MTM 2025 was a reaffirmation of our mission: turning deep-rooted heritage into compelling, accessible travel narratives.

Weaving Heritage into the Conversation

Under the visionary leadership of our founder, Muhammed Shihad, the City Heritage team made a prominent impression. Our thoughtfully designed stall, positioned among leading hospitality brands and innovative experience providers, wasn't just a display; it was an invitation to step into Malabar's vibrant past and its exciting future.

We proudly showcased our unique offerings as a bespoke experience provider, specializing in the curation of immersive experiences: Culinary Arts, Folk Festivals, and Heritage Stories, including the deep influence of both local and colonial history. We bring to life the legacy of Maritime Trade, Global Routes, and Connections that placed Malabar at the heart of the world economy for centuries.

Stakeholders and hosted buyers engaged with our team, eager to understand how these authentic, narrative-driven experiences can elevate the traveller journey. To encourage deeper local exploration, we were delighted to distribute a discount coupon, offering guests a special experience at the Gudhaam Art Cafe in Kozhikode—a space that perfectly embodies the confluence of history, community, and contemporary art that we champion.

Expanding the Canvas of Malabar Stories

The MTM 2025 platform gave us the perfect stage to announce our expanded geographical focus, broadening our services across the entire Malabar region. City Heritage is now expanding its service network from Kannur to Kozhikode, Thalassery to Ponnani, Bekal to Nilambur, Kappad to Palakkad, and Valapattanam to Kodungallur. This expansion allows us to uncover and share a continuous tapestry of regional heritage, from coastal ports and colonial architecture to inland folk traditions and trade routes.

Shaping Malabar: The Broader Context

The overwhelming success of MTM 2025 provides an essential context for our participation. The event's focus on "Shaping Malabar" and the crucial need for Public-Private Partnership—a fact stressed during the inauguration by Hon. MP Shri M.K. Raghavan—directly aligns with our operational ethos.

The conference featured four stimulating "Samvad" sessions, touching on topics from the Future of Tourism to the Role of AI in New Age Technologies. City Heritage firmly believes that while technology can assist, the soul of Malabar tourism will always lie in authentic storytelling and the preservation of cultural heritage.

This sentiment was beautifully echoed during the MTM Awards of Excellence, where Shri P. Mohan was honored with the Best Storyteller Award, a tribute to the power of human connection through narrative. Our goal is to take that spirit of storytelling and translate it into world-class travel experiences across our newly expanded territories.

A Confident Path Forward

From the classical Kolkkali performance that commenced the meet to the distribution of Kozhikode halwa as a cultural memento, MTM 2025 delivered a profound taste of Malabar's living traditions.

City Heritage returns from Kozhikode energized and inspired, with a wider operational area and a deeper set of curated experiences ready for the world. By positioning ourselves at the forefront of this movement, we are dedicated to collaborating with the Malabar Tourism Council and all stakeholders to ensure that Malabar’s rich, multifaceted heritage is not just preserved, but celebrated and confidently placed on the global tourism map.

Our journey continues, and we look forward to crafting the next chapter of Malabar's amazing story, from its ancient ports to its vibrant inland cultures.