Kerala plans to attract five million foreign tourists a year and encourage them to stay at least seven days, while expanding domestic tourism and developing new attractions, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said after inaugurating 13th Kerala Travel Mart in Kochi on September 24. The State is also targeting 100 million domestic tourist visits, up from 25 million.

The business-to-business mart, from September 25 to 27 at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island, features 383 stalls and has registered more than 3,000 buyers.

Kerala has recorded 8.22 lakh foreign tourist visits in 2025, an 11.33% increase over 2024. Domestic visits have reached 2.51 crore, up 12.64%. Satheesan said the State would promote sustainable forest tourism, trekking and jungle lodges.

The government also plans to connect Kerala’s two major international ports, container terminal and 18 minor ports, making greater use of its 600-km coastline and shifting some logistics from roads to sea. Cruise tourism is part of the plan, with a Kochi cruise terminal approved and another proposed near Kozhikode. Services could link Kochi with Dubai, Goa, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, with a later phase exploring river cruises across the State’s 44 river systems.

Satheesan outlined plans to integrate Kerala’s four international airports and develop a global convention centre near Cochin airport. Kochi is also slated to get an oceanarium, maritime museum and film city. A culture park is planned for Kozhikode, while Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is to move closer to the forest boundary, with its current site redeveloped.