More than 3,000 registered international and domestic buyers, tourism professionals, and industry representatives gathered in Kochi for the 13th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026), held from September 24 to 27, 2026.
The four-day tourism and hospitality event brought together businesses and travel professionals from India and overseas, creating opportunities for industry networking, business meetings, destination promotion, and discussions on the future of tourism.
KTM 2026 was held at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island, where exhibitors showcased Kerala's diverse tourism offerings. The exhibition featured hotels, resorts, tour operators, houseboats, wellness businesses, destination management companies, travel agencies, and other tourism enterprises from across the state.
Kerala's tourism sector was prominently represented throughout the event, with exhibitors highlighting the state's wide range of experiences. These included wellness tourism, backwater tourism, nature and wildlife tourism, adventure travel, and responsible and community-based tourism.
The event also provided a platform for Kerala-based tourism businesses to connect directly with international and domestic buyers. Through business-to-business meetings, participating companies were able to present their products and services while exploring potential partnerships with travel professionals from different markets.
Kerala Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas was also present at the event and visited several exhibition booths, where he interacted with buyers and tourism industry representatives. His participation highlighted the importance of tourism as a key sector in Kerala's economy and destination development.
Tourism Industry Leaders Discuss Emerging Trends
Beyond its business meetings and exhibition activities, KTM 2026 also featured panel discussions and sessions involving tourism experts and industry leaders.
Among the major topics discussed were inclusive and accessible tourism, artificial intelligence and its impact on the tourism industry, changing customer expectations, and social responsibility in tourism.
The discussions reflected the rapid transformation taking place across the global travel industry. Tourism businesses are increasingly being challenged to respond to changing traveler preferences while adopting new technologies and developing more responsible and inclusive tourism practices.
Artificial intelligence was among the notable subjects discussed during the event. The technology is increasingly being used across different areas of tourism, including travel planning, customer service, marketing, personalization, and destination management.
As travelers become more digitally connected and increasingly seek personalized experiences, tourism businesses are exploring how emerging technologies can improve the way destinations and travel services are marketed and delivered.
Kerala Showcases Its Diverse Tourism Experiences
Through KTM 2026, Kerala continued to showcase its position as a destination offering experiences beyond traditional sightseeing. From its famous backwaters and wellness offerings to nature, wildlife, adventure, and community-based tourism, the state presented a broad portfolio to international and domestic travel buyers.
The four-day event also served as a meeting point for tourism stakeholders looking to strengthen business relationships, exchange industry knowledge, and explore new opportunities in the evolving travel market.
With thousands of participants coming together in Kochi, the 13th Kerala Travel Mart 2026 provided an important platform for Kerala's tourism industry to connect with the wider travel market while discussing the trends and technologies shaping the future of tourism.
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