Kerala plans 100 new tourism destinations to spread visitor footfall
Kerala will develop 100 new destinations over five years, including 20 this year, to ease pressure on established hubs such as Munnar, Varkala and Kovalam. The state has earmarked ₹325.36 crore for tourism infrastructure in its revised 2026–27 budget.
What happened
Kerala Tourism · Kerala will grant tourism industry status in October and promote 100 new destinations over five years to reduce overtourism. The state has
Key facts
- 100 new destinations over five years
- 20 new destinations targeted this year
- ₹325.36 crore tourism allocation in revised 2026-27 budget
- ₹90,000 crore tourism-receipts target over five years
What changed
Kerala will grant tourism industry status in October and promote 100 new destinations over five years to reduce overtourism. The state has allocated ₹325.36 crore for tourism infrastructure and aims to double travel receipts to ₹90,000 crore.
Why this matters
Retail and hospitality operators should scout Kerala’s planned destination pipeline early, as infrastructure investment could shift tourist spending into emerging local markets beyond Munnar, Varkala and Kovalam.
What to watch
- Publication of the destination list and the share of the ₹325.36 crore allocation committed to access roads, parking, sanitation and visitor facilities.
- Tender awards, land clearances and project-completion milestones for the first 20 destinations.
- Growth in hotel, homestay and short-stay listings near new destination clusters.
- Changes in road traffic, bus routes, rail connectivity and airport-to-destination transfers.
- State tourism campaign launches, festival programming and travel-platform search or booking trends.