The 13th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) officially opened on September 24 at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, bringing together thousands of tourism professionals, international and domestic buyers, sellers, media representatives, and industry stakeholders.
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| Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh and other officials inaugurate Kerala Travel Mart 2026 in Kochi |
Recognized as one of India’s largest business-to-business tourism and hospitality events, KTM 2026 brought together more than 3,000 registered participants, including international buyers, domestic buyers, tourism industry representatives, and local and international media.
The event recorded what organizers described as the largest participation in the mart’s 25-year history, with 610 international buyers, 1,750 domestic buyers, and 117 media registrations. The opening ceremony featured vibrant cultural performances highlighting Kerala’s traditions, arts, and heritage.
Kerala Sets Ambitious Tourism Targets
Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan formally inaugurated KTM 2026 and outlined the state’s ambitious plans to expand its tourism sector.
During the opening ceremony, Satheesan said Kerala is targeting 100 million domestic tourist visits and 5 million foreign tourist arrivals over the next five years.
He also highlighted plans to expand Kerala’s cruise tourism infrastructure. A new cruise terminal is being planned in Beypore, Kozhikode, which would complement the existing cruise facilities at Cochin Port.
According to the plans discussed during the event, cruise connections from Kochi could include destinations such as Dubai, Goa, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and other international and regional ports.
The Chief Minister also highlighted several proposed tourism and infrastructure projects, including an oceanarium, an international maritime museum, and an international convention facility near Cochin International Airport.
These initiatives are expected to support Kerala’s goal of strengthening its position as a destination for leisure, business, cruise, cultural, and experiential tourism.
Tourism Infrastructure to Expand Across Kerala
Kerala Tourism Minister P. C. Vishnunadh also attended the inaugural ceremony and emphasized the importance of developing tourism beyond the state’s established destinations.
He said the government plans to strengthen tourism infrastructure across 100 destinations, with the aim of bringing more communities and regions into Kerala’s tourism economy.
The strategy reflects the growing focus on spreading tourism activity across different parts of the state while creating opportunities for local businesses, communities, and tourism stakeholders.
Other government officials and tourism personalities who participated in the event included Jose Pradeep, President of the Kerala Travel Mart Society; Hari Kishore, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; M. Liju, Cooperation and Excise Minister; K. Biju, Tourism Secretary; and M. Anjana, Tourism Director, among other representatives.
Three Days of Tourism Business and Networking
Following the opening ceremony, KTM 2026 continued from September 25 to 27, giving buyers and sellers three days of business-to-business meetings, networking opportunities, and industry discussions.
More than 45,000 B2B meetings were scheduled ahead of the event, demonstrating the scale of business engagement surrounding this year's edition.
The mart provided an opportunity for international and domestic buyers to meet Kerala-based tourism businesses, including hotels, resorts, tour operators, destination management companies, travel agencies, and other tourism service providers.
Beyond business meetings, KTM 2026 also featured panel discussions involving tourism experts and industry leaders.
Tourism Industry Experts Discuss the Future
Among the key topics discussed during the event were inclusive and accessible tourism, the application and disruption of artificial intelligence in tourism, evolving customer expectations, and social responsibility in the tourism industry.
The discussions took place at the Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre on Willingdon Island in Kochi, bringing together industry professionals to explore how tourism businesses can adapt to rapidly changing traveler expectations and emerging technologies.
Artificial intelligence, in particular, has become an increasingly important topic for the global tourism sector, influencing areas such as travel planning, customer service, marketing, personalization, and destination management.
Celebrating Kerala Through Food, Music and Culture
KTM 2026 also provided opportunities for participants to experience Kerala beyond its business meetings and conference sessions.
A networking dinner brought together buyers, sellers, media representatives, and tourism stakeholders over local cuisine, drinks, and live musical performances.
The cultural elements of the event helped showcase Kerala's distinctive traditions and hospitality while giving international and domestic participants an opportunity to connect in a more relaxed setting.
With thousands of tourism professionals gathered in Kochi, Kerala Travel Mart 2026 served not only as a major marketplace for tourism businesses but also as a platform to discuss the future direction of Kerala's tourism industry.
As Kerala works toward its ambitious visitor targets and invests in new tourism infrastructure, KTM 2026 highlights the state's continued efforts to expand its tourism economy, diversify destinations, attract international travelers, and strengthen connections between Kerala's tourism businesses and the global travel market.
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