image sourced from original article at Foreign tourist arrivals to Kerala increased by 11.33 percent, rising from 7.78 lakh in 2024 to 8.21 lakh in 2025, with the state aiming to reach 9 lakh visitors this year. Although international arrivals remain below pre-pandemic levels, tourism revenue climbed to 50,000 crore rupees in 2025 from 46,000 crore rupees the previous year.
Officials noted that tensions in West Asia could temporarily affect arrivals due to disruptions in the Middle East travel hub, but intensified promotional efforts are expected to offset the impact. Key source markets include the United Kingdom, the United States, Oman, France, Malaysia, Australia, and the Maldives, while Russia and Germany are emerging as important markets for high-spending wellness tourism.
Domestic tourism recorded strong growth, reaching 2.5 crore visitors in 2025, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka led domestic arrivals, with additional visitors from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi, and West Bengal. Kerala is also expanding promotions in Southeast Asia and exploring joint marketing initiatives with Sri Lanka and the Maldives ahead of the upcoming Global Travel Market event in Thiruvananthapuram.
