Domestic visitors rise while foreign tourism recovery remains slow in Keralam

Keralam recorded modest growth in tourist arrivals during the first six months of the year, driven by a 10.47% increase in domestic visitors while foreign footfall grew by 8.3% compared to the same period last year. Officials indicate that the State's tourism sector will likely see only marginal growth this year, with the recovery in the foreign segment expected to take a long time.

Background

The domestic segment bounced back quickly after the COVID-19 pandemic and surpassed its pre-pandemic numbers in 2022 with 1.88 crore arrivals, beating the 2019 peak of 1.83 crore. Growth continued with 15.9% in 2023 and 12.64% in 2025, though 2024 saw a slow 1.72% growth due to a massive landslide disaster in July that claimed roughly 298 lives and kept travelers away from hilly areas.

Foreign Tourism Challenges

The foreign tourist segment is struggling more, registering just 8.3% growth up to June 2026, which is lower than the 11.33% and 13.76% growth rates seen in 2025 and 2024. A senior Tourism Department official told The Hindu that this slow pace is worrying because the State recovered only about 70% of its pre-pandemic foreign arrivals last year, whereas competitors like Sri Lanka reached an all-time high of 23.62 lakh arrivals in 2025. It could take Keralam a few more years to match its 2019 pre-pandemic foreign total of 11.89 lakh visitors.

Factors and Reactions

Global political shifts and problems in West Asia have added to the troubles, as many foreign visitors use Dubai or Doha as transit hubs because direct flights to Europe and the US are missing, and ongoing conflicts have caused a small drop in Arab tourists. Despite these hurdles, the industry hopes for a better current season running until March. James Kodianthara, former chairperson of the Kerala chapter of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, stated that stakeholders want strong support from the State government to run aggressive global promotional campaigns and keep tourist spots clean and hygienic.

Context

Tourism is a major part of Keralam's economy, providing jobs and income for many local businesses, hotels, and transport providers across the State. When global conflicts or natural disasters happen, they often disrupt travel plans and flight routes, which directly affects how many international visitors choose to travel.