In an exclusive interaction, Mr. Rajkumar K, Chief Executive Officer of the Kerala Travel Mart Society, shared insights into Kerala’s tourism growth and the preparations for the upcoming 13th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart.
How has Kerala grown as a tourism destination, and what are your expectations from SATTE this year?
As everyone knows, Kerala entered the tourism sector slightly later compared to destinations like Delhi, Rajasthan, and Goa. However, over the years, Kerala has witnessed tremendous growth in both inbound and domestic tourism.
According to the latest statistics for 2024, the total tourist footfall to Kerala has reached around 1.5 crore visitors, reflecting the increasing popularity of the destination among travellers.
Events like SATTE provide an important platform for us to connect with travel trade partners, promote Kerala’s diverse tourism offerings, and strengthen relationships with the global travel industry.
Could you tell us more about the upcoming Kerala Travel Mart?
The 13th edition of Kerala Travel Mart will be held in September this year. The inaugural function is scheduled for 24 September, and the business sessions will take place from 24 to 27 September.
We expect over 1,000 domestic buyers from across India and around 400 to 500 international hosted buyers to participate in the event. In addition to these, we anticipate 1,500 to 2,000 non-hosted buyers as well.
The registration process has already begun, and we have already crossed 1,000 registrations from both domestic and international participants. The response so far has been very encouraging.
What will be the key focus areas at this year’s Kerala Travel Mart?
Leisure tourism will remain the main focus for Kerala, as the state offers a wide range of experiences, including nature, backwaters, wellness, and cultural tourism.
At the same time, we have been actively promoting MICE and destination weddings over the past few years. Destination weddings, in particular, have emerged as an important segment for Kerala Tourism.
On 5 August 2025, we organised the first-ever Wedding and MICE Conclave in Kochi, which was a significant success. It was one of the first dedicated events in India focused specifically on these segments.
Building on this momentum, we plan to further strengthen these verticals at the upcoming Kerala Travel Mart. We will invite corporates, wedding planners, and MICE operators, and there will be a dedicated platform for them during the event.
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