'Sister heritage' status mooted for Hampi, Machhu Pichhu of Peru

Tourism Minister R V Deshpande on Saturday met Peruvian minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Magali Silva Velarde-Alvarez in Lima, and suggested that the magnificent ruins of Hampi in the State and Peru’s famed Machhu Pichhu be declared as ‘Sister Heritage Sites’.

Deshpande, heading a delegation, told Velarde-Alvarez that the declaration would encourage tourists visiting any one of these sites, to visit the other. This wat both the governments would associate and work together on heritage conservation and tourism promotion, he added. He informed her that Hampi is comparable to Machhu Pichhu in terms of heritage, history and grandeur.

“Both the UNESCO World Heritage sites could develop joint publicity material to generate more interest among tourists. Such a declaration would also help us learn and adopt best practices of each other and promote these two destinations,” he said.

Velarde-Alvarez suggested that an MoU should be signed to give effect to the concept of ‘Sister Heritage Sites’ for mutual benefit and cooperation.

Deshpande has requested Velarde-Alvarez to be the Chief Guest at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) meet to be held during September 6-8, 2015, in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the delegation conducted a roadshow on “Invest Karnataka 2015” at Lima, in association with Embassy of India in Peru and the Lima Chamber of Commerce.