Kerala is moving toward becoming a full-fledged “tourism State,” as expansion extends to districts like Kasaragod, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Thrissur.

Domestic tourism is led by visitors from states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Tourism Minister highlights that planned initiatives, rest-house renovations, upgraded hospitality infrastructure, and better road connectivity have spurred growth, with notable progress in north Kerala and the Malabar region.

He says the sustained growth marks a post-Covid revival of Kerala’s tourism sector, driven by ongoing policy initiatives under the LDF government.

Domestic arrivals in 2025 rose about 12.6%, surpassing pre-Covid levels by over 36%, with Idukki, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Thrissur as leading districts.

Kerala recorded its highest-ever inbound tourism in 2025, totaling 25,880,365 visitors from outside the state.

Foreign tourism in 2025 reached 821,999 visitors, up 11.3% from 2024, with source countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the Maldives.

Plans to develop PWD rest houses aim to provide affordable accommodation, complemented by National Highway-66 improvements to boost connectivity and attract visitors to distant districts.

The government is upgrading PWD rest houses and leveraging technology to support the revival and growth of tourism.

There has been a notable shift in geographic distribution, with North Kerala’s share of arrivals rising from about 6% and regions like Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Thrissur seeing increased footfall.

The revival is attributed to strategic planning, stakeholder consultations, phased Covid-19 crisis management, and the use of technology across the sector, including enhanced connectivity and affordability through rest houses and highway works.

Kerala’s domestic tourist base remains largely local, with significant inflows from the same set of states cited as top contributors.