Kerala Tourism is setting aside 20% of its marketing funds to pull in tourists from Arab nations. This was revealed by P.C . Vishnunadh, the state's Tourism Minister, on Thursday,July 23, 2026, ahead of the Indo-Arab Connect 2026 tourism summit.
Summit happens August 31. It's a team effort involving the Association of Arab Tour Operators (AATO), Indo-Arab Tourism and Hospitality Alliance,and Tourism India, along with Kerala Tourism,Union Tourism Ministry,and Cochin International Airport Limited. Minister Vishnunadh said marketing will spotlight Ayurveda and monsoon tourism, popular with travelers .
June to September, once off-peak,now sees a tourist influx,thanks to Arab tour operators. Last year,Kerala saw over 100,000 Arab tourists. Oman came third in visitor numbers,after the U.S . and U.K. Saudi Arabia and UAE are also climbing the ranks.
Arab tourists spend big,about $3,000 a day on hotels, food, and shopping. That's a lot more than the $550 to $700 Europeans spend. The peak for Saudi,Oman,UAE,Egypt,Jordan, and Iran tourists matches Kerala's off-peak months,boosting tourism plans.
Even with West Asia tensions, AATO President Rashid Kakkat said Arab interest in Kerala is strong. This season,starting late June, is already showing growth. Ravisankar K.V .,Indo-Arab Tourism chief coordinator,said summit will give Arab operators a firsthand look at Kerala's Ayurveda,medical,and luxury travel options.
Goal: Draw 300,000 Arab tourists soon,adding over ₹25,000 crore to Kerala's economy. summit will gather 500+ tour operators, travel agents, and MICE agents from India,plus 200 reps from Saudi Arabia,Oman,UAE,Egypt,Jordan,Iran, Qatar,Kuwait,Bahrain,and Iraq.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will open the summit, followed by a business meeting September 1 and a week-long tour of Kerala starting September 2. Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi,tourism ministers from southern states and Goa, and Suman Billa, Director General of Ministry of Tourism, will attend. Diplomats from ten Arab countries are expected too. A major meet to boost Kerala-Arab tourism ties.
