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

Kerala Tourism will set apart 20% of its marketing funds to woo tourists from Arab countries, considering that tourists from those countries play a decisive role in the growth of tourism in the State, Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh said here on Thursday (July 23, 2026).

Addressing the media ahead of the Indo-Arab Connect 2026, a tourism summit jointly organised by the Association of Arab Tour Operators (AATO), the 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 prioritised marketing strategies built around Ayurveda and monsoon tourism.

What was once considered Kerala’s off-season, June to September, is seeing an increase in tourist arrivals, thanks to sustained efforts by Arab tour operators. Kerala had hosted over a lakh Arab tourists in 2025, while Oman ranks third among source markets for foreign tourists to Kerala and could even overtake arrivals from the United States and the United Kingdom which held the top two positions for three decades. Moreover, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among the top 10 tourist source markets for the State, Mr. Vishnunadh said.

High-spending travellers

The Minister said that Arab tourists were among the highest-spending travellers in the world, averaging $3,000 a day on accommodation, food and shopping, compared to $550-$700 spent by traditional European visitors — and that it would significantly boost Kerala’s economy. The peak travel season for Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Iran, which are among Kerala’s top 10 source markets, falls precisely during the State’s traditional June-September off-season.

AATO president Rashid Kakkat said despite the ongoing tensions in West Asia, Arab tourists continued to show strong interest in Kerala, with the season that began in late June already recording high growth. Ravisankar K.V., chief coordinator of Indo-Arab Tourism, said the summit is designed to give Arab tour operators a first-hand exposure of the State’s Ayurveda, medical tourism and luxury travel offerings. The aim is to attract three lakh Arab tourists in the near future and to contribute over ₹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 attendees at the summit would include over 500 tour operators, travel agents, and MICE travel agents from India. Around 200 tour operators from Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq are expected to take part in the summit on August 31. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will inaugurate the summit.

A business meeting will be held on September 1 and a week-long tour of Kerala’s tourism 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. Diplomats from 10 Arab countries too would attend, he added.