Kerala Travel Mart 2026 to Bring Global Tourism Buyers to Kochi, Spotlighting Kerala’s Next Phase of Tourism Growth
Kerala is set to host the 13th edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026 from September 24 to 27 in Kochi, bringing together international and domestic tourism buyers, travel companies, hospitality businesses, destination-management companies and other industry stakeholders.
Organised by the Kerala Travel Mart Society with the support of Kerala Tourism, the four-day event is positioned as a major business-to-business platform for promoting Kerala’s tourism products and building new connections with global travel markets.
More Than 3,000 Buyers Registered
KTM 2026 has attracted strong participation from the travel trade. More than 3,000 buyers had registered by August, including around 790 international buyers and 2,210 domestic buyers, according to event-related reports.
The event will also feature hundreds of tourism sellers, government institutions and service providers, creating opportunities for direct business discussions between buyers and Kerala’s tourism industry.
The organisers have scheduled a large number of B2B meetings during the event, highlighting KTM’s role not simply as a tourism exhibition but as a business-development platform for the state’s travel and hospitality ecosystem.
Four-Day Programme in Kochi
The official KTM programme begins with the inaugural function on September 24 at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty.
The main business sessions will take place from September 25 to 27 at the Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centres on Willingdon Island.
The programme includes dedicated discussions on several emerging areas of tourism.
Among the scheduled sessions are:
- Inclusive and Accessible Tourism
- Application of AI / Disruption by AI in the Tourism Industry
- Evolving Customer Expectations
- Social Responsibility in Tourism
The inclusion of artificial intelligence reflects the industry’s growing interest in technology-driven travel planning, personalised experiences and digital transformation.
Kerala Targets New Tourism Destinations
KTM 2026 is also taking place against the backdrop of Kerala’s plans to expand its tourism map.
Kerala Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh has said the state plans to develop 100 new tourism destinations over the next five years, with a target of introducing around 20 destinations annually.
The state is also looking to strengthen tourism segments including wellness and Ayurveda, experiential tourism, cultural heritage and destination weddings.
The strategy is aimed at broadening Kerala’s tourism offering beyond its established attractions such as beaches, backwaters and hill destinations, while creating opportunities for newer regions and local tourism businesses.
Focus on Wellness, Ayurveda and Experiential Travel
Wellness tourism remains one of Kerala’s key areas of international appeal. Ayurveda, traditional wellness practices and nature-based experiences have long been associated with the state’s tourism identity.
At KTM 2026, these offerings will be promoted alongside experiential tourism and cultural products. The objective is to connect Kerala’s established tourism strengths with changing international traveller preferences.
Responsible tourism and community-oriented travel are also receiving attention as the industry looks at ways to make tourism more inclusive and sustainable.
Digital Transformation Takes Centre Stage
KTM 2026 is introducing a stronger digital component across the event.
According to the Kerala Travel Mart Society, registrations, B2B meeting arrangements, seminars and other event processes are being managed through digital tools.
Technology is also directly part of the conference programme, with a dedicated session examining the application of AI and the disruption caused by AI in tourism.
For the wider tourism industry, AI could influence areas such as destination discovery, itinerary planning, customer service, marketing, hotel operations and travel recommendations.
Business Opportunities for Kerala’s Tourism Industry
The buyer-seller structure of KTM provides Kerala’s hotels, resorts, tour operators, destination-management companies and other tourism businesses with an opportunity to establish direct international market connections.
The event is also designed to support networking between tourism policymakers and private-sector stakeholders.
Post-mart tours are scheduled after the main event, allowing participating buyers and media representatives to experience different parts of Kerala and explore tourism products directly.
Tourism as a Wider Economic Driver
Kerala’s tourism industry has significance beyond visitor arrivals. It supports hospitality, transportation, restaurants, local handicrafts, wellness services, tour operations and a wide network of small and medium-sized businesses.
By bringing international buyers directly into the state, KTM provides a platform for these businesses to establish partnerships and develop new markets.
The state’s focus on new destinations could also help distribute tourism activity across a larger number of regions rather than concentrating demand around a limited group of established destinations.
Kerala Positions Itself for the Global Travel Market
Kerala Travel Mart has been organised since 2000 and has developed into an important trade platform for the state’s tourism sector.
The 2026 edition is expected to combine traditional Kerala experiences with emerging areas such as wellness tourism, responsible tourism, accessible tourism, experiential travel and AI-driven tourism services.
With thousands of buyers and tourism businesses participating, KTM 2026 will provide Kerala with an important platform to strengthen international market connections and showcase the state’s evolving tourism proposition.
