Keralam hopes to achieve five million foreign tourist footfall in 5 years: CM

Kochi, Sep 25 (UNI) Highlighting the unique tourism potential of Keralam, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said his government has set a target of five million foreign tourist footfall to the state in five years, besides raising the domestic tourist arrivals to 100 million during this period.

He was inaugurating the 13th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM 2026), one of the country's premium tourism and trade events here last night. "In 2025, Kerala recorded 8,21,999 foreign tourist visits, registering an increase of 11.33 percent over 2024. Domestic tourist visits reached 2,50,58,366, clocking a growth of 12.64 percent," Satheesan said. Referring to the potential of ecotourism, the CM said the state has to promote forest tourism, jungles lodges and trekking and similar verticals in a sustainable manner as Keralam's unique features.

"We want to integrate all the ports and make entire Kerala into a port city. At least 50 percent of the logistics can be shifted to the sea," he said. Underlining that port development is a major component of tourism, Satheesan said the government has given its nod to Cochin Port to set up a cruise terminal, while another one is on the anvil in Kozhikode. In the second phase, the cruise segment will be expanded to 44 rivers of Keralam. The CM informed that an international global convention centre will come up near Kochi airport.

Referring to Keralam's maritime history, he announced that an international maritime museum and an oceanarium will be set up in the city. Kerala Tourism Minister PC Vishnunadh, in his address, said KTM has grown into a significant meeting ground for the global travel community-a place where markets meet ideas, businesses meet opportunities, and destinations meet the people who take them to the world. The minister said that with a record number of more than 3,000 buyer registrations and more than 400 seller stalls, KTM 2026 is poised to be the largest marketing platform for the Kerala tourism industry.

In 2025, foreign tourist visits to Keralam grew by 11.33 per cent over the previous year, while domestic tourist visits recorded a strong growth of 12.64 per cent. Vishnunadh said that to promote new tourism destinations, the government will strengthen tourism infrastructure across 100 destinations, enabling more parts of Keralam to benefit from tourism. Commenting on experiential tourism, the minister said during the next Onam season, the 'Be a Malayali for a Day' initiative will be launched for tourists to experience Keralam by taking them through the traditional lifestyle and cuisine of Keralites.

This edition of the biennial event, which has recorded over 3,000 registrations from India and abroad, marks the largest participation in KTM's 25-year-long history and celebrates the synergy between the government and private enterprises in the tourism sector.

UNI/XC/ AAB