Kerala targets 2 lakh Arab tourists and ₹5,000 crore tourism revenue next year
Kerala Tourism is targeting 2 lakh arrivals from Arab markets next year, up from 1.22 lakh in 2025, with tourism revenue projected to rise from over ₹3,000 crore to nearly ₹5,000 crore. Indo-Arab Connect is also pursuing ₹25,000 crore in travel trade business over three to five years.
What happened
Kerala Tourism is targeting two lakh Arab tourist arrivals next year and nearly ₹5,000 crore in tourism revenue, following 1.22 lakh arrivals and over ₹3,000
Key facts
- 1.22 lakh Arab tourists hosted in Kerala in 2025
- More than ₹3,000 crore tourism revenue in 2025
- Target of 2 lakh Arab tourist arrivals next year
- Nearly ₹5,000 crore targeted tourism revenue next year
- 162 tour operators from 10 Arab countries
- Nearly 200 Indian stakeholders
- 16,632 business meetings
- More than 175 tour operators and travel agents
- More than 100 exhibitors
- ₹25,000 crore business target over three to five years
Why this matters
Indo-Arab Connect’s ₹25,000 crore travel-trade ambition creates partnership and acquisition opportunities in inbound tour operations, airport services, luxury retail, payments and destination experiences.
What to watch
- Growth in direct air capacity from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman to Kerala airports.
- Hotel occupancy, average daily rates and new luxury-room supply during the October-March season.
- Arab-market visa policy, regional security conditions and GCC consumer confidence.
- Adoption of halal certification, Arabic-language infrastructure and premium tourist-service standards.
- Actual 2026 foreign-arrival data, average length of stay and per-visitor spending versus the 2 lakh and ₹5,000 crore targets.
- Progress on Indo-Arab Connect travel-trade agreements and confirmed investment or distribution partnerships.
- Hotel, restaurant and mall operators should expand halal-certified menus, Arabic signage, prayer facilities and Arabic-speaking concierge or sales staff.
- Jewellery, fashion, beauty, fragrance and gift retailers should build GCC-targeted assortments, tax-refund guidance, international payment acceptance and airport/resort delivery options.
- Tour operators should package beach, backwater, wellness, medical, shopping and family itineraries with private transport and women-friendly services.
- Retail landlords should prioritize premium F&B, jewellery, beauty and travel-services tenants near airports, luxury hotels and high-footfall tourism zones.
- Brands should time GCC-market campaigns around school holidays, Eid periods and winter travel season while partnering with Gulf travel agents and influencers.