Kerala Tourism to allocate 20% of marketing funds to woo Arab tourists, says Tourism Minister

Visitors watch the rough monsoon sea at Fort Kochi. The state government is focusing on marketing strategies aimed at Ayurveda and monsoon tourism. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

Kerala Tourism will allocate 20% of its marketing funds to attract tourists from Arab countries as tourists from these countries play a crucial role in the growth of tourism in the state, Tourism Minister PC Vishnunadh said here on Thursday (July 23, 2026).

Addressing the media ahead of Indo-Arab Connect 2026, a tourism summit jointly organized by the Association of Arab Tour Operators (AATO), Indo-Arab Tourism and Hospitality Alliance and Tourism India in collaboration with Kerala Tourism, Union Tourism Ministry and Cochin International Airport Limited, he said the state government has prioritized marketing strategies built around monsoon tourism and Ayurveda.

What was once considered Kerala’s off-season, from June to September, is witnessing an increase in tourist arrivals thanks to the sustained efforts of Arab tour operators. Kerala has hosted more than a million Arab tourists in 2025, while Oman ranks third among the source markets for foreign tourists to Kerala and could even overtake arrivals from the United States and the United Kingdom, which have held the top two positions for three decades. Additionally, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among the top 10 tourism source markets for the state, Vishnunadh said.

High spending travelers

The minister said Arab tourists are among the highest spenders in the world, averaging $3,000 a day on accommodation, food and shopping, compared to $550 to $700 spent by traditional European visitors – and that this will significantly boost Kerala’s economy. The peak travel season to Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Iran, which are among Kerala’s top 10 source markets, coincides with the country’s traditional off-season from June to September.

AATO President Rashid Kakkat said that despite the ongoing tensions in West Asia, Arab tourists continue to show strong interest in Kerala, with the season that started in late June already seeing high growth. Ravisankar KV, chief coordinator of Indo-Arab tourism, said the summit is designed to give Arab tour operators direct exposure to the country’s Ayurveda, medical tourism and luxury travel offerings. The aim is to attract three million Arab tourists in the near future and contribute more than ₹ 25,000 crore to Kerala’s economy, he added.

CM to inaugurate

Jolly Antony, chairman of the Indo-Arab Tourism and Hospitality Alliance, said the summit will include more than 500 tour operators, tour operators and MICE agencies from India. Around 200 tour operators from Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq are expected to attend the August 31 summit. Chief Minister VD Satheesan will inaugurate the summit.

A business meeting will be held on September 1 and a week-long tour of Kerala tourist circuits on September 2. Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi, Tourism Ministers of South Indian States and Goa and Suman Billa, Director General, Ministry of Tourism will be present. He added that diplomats from 10 Arab countries will also participate.

Published – 23 Jul 2026 21:58 IST