Kerala tourism : record breaking numbers in 2025
Kerala’s tourism sector recorded a landmark year in 2025, reaching its highest-ever visitor numbers and highlighting the state’s growing appeal among domestic travelers.
According to figures released by Kerala’s Tourism Ministry, the state welcomed more than 25.8 million tourists in 2025, driven essentially by strong domestic demand. Domestic arrivals surpassed 25 million, significantly exceeding pre-pandemic levels and confirming a structural shift toward intra-India travel.
International arrivals also continued their recovery, rising by 11.3% to reach around 822,000 visitors year-on-year. 2025 remains however slightly below historic peaks due to ongoing global travel challenges.
Looking at major tourist destinations, the standout performer was Idukki district, which attracted approximately 4.67 million visitors. Known for its hill stations, plantations, and eco-tourism landscapes including Munnar and Thekkady, the region benefited from improved infrastructure, expanded nature-based experiences and growing interest in sustainable travel options.
Other high-performing districts included Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur, demonstrating a broader geographic spread of tourism activity across the state.
Kerala tourism officials attribute the strong performance to a combination of targeted campaigns, improved connectivity and a renewed emphasis on experiential travel, including village tourism, wellness retreats and adventure activities. Responsible tourism programs, which integrate local communities into tourism supply chains, have also helped distribute economic benefits more widely while enhancing visitor experiences.
Industry observers note that Kerala’s recovery highlights broader trends shaping India’s tourism landscape, particularly the rise of domestic travel and increasing demand for nature-based and culturally immersive experiences. However, authorities stress that managing growth sustainably remains a priority, especially in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Western Ghats.
Looking ahead, Kerala Tourism plans to further strengthen international promotion while continuing to host industry events and collaborative initiatives designed to maintain momentum. A major event is the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), one of India’s largest tourism trade events, hosted in partnership with industry stakeholders.
Each year, the event brings together up to 1,100 international buyers, tour operators and tourism professionals, helping showcase Kerala’s products globally and strengthening partnerships that support inbound travel growth.
The 2026 edition will be held from September 24 to 27 in Kochi and registrations are already opened by clicking on this link.
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