Mumbai, Oct 6 (PTI) Keralam expects a 10-12 per cent rise in tourist footfalls this year after receiving around 2.58 crore visitors last year, with robust domestic tourism expected to drive growth, a senior Tourism department official said on Tuesday.
The southern state hosted 1.32 crore domestic and 4.14 lakh international tourists during January-June 2026, and around 2.58 crore overall visitors, including 2.50 crore domestic and 8.21 lakh international tourists, in 2025, Kerala Tourism information officer PK Sooraj told PTI.
“We have improved a lot when it comes to domestic travellers, and international tourist arrivals are also improving every year. However, catching up to 2029, foreign tourist arrivals will be very difficult now due to one global crisis after another,” he said.
However, the shortfall in international tourists is being offset by robust domestic traveller arrivals, he added.
To make Keralam an attractive destination and elevate the holiday experience so that travellers spend more time in the state, the government is focusing on responsible and experiential tourism, which will highlight its culture, heritage, art, wildlife and agriculture, he noted.
For 2026-27, the state has allocated a budget of Rs 325.36 crore for developing tourist infrastructure and promoting Keralam as an attractive destination, he said.
“Our major domestic source markets are all neighbouring states, along with Maharashtra and Gujarat. We want to attract more tourists from other parts of the country as well. Therefore, we have increased promotional roadshows to 16 cities this year from 12 cities last year,” he said.
Keralam caters to all tourist segments as the state offers a wide range of products and activities – including adventure, leisure, and solo travel – that suit all age groups and appeal to a wider audience, he added. PTI SM BAL
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