Kerala recorded the highest tourist arrivals in its history in 2025, Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said on Monday, highlighting a strong post-pandemic recovery in the sector.
Addressing reporters, Riyas said the state welcomed 2,58,80,365 visitors from outside Kerala last year — the highest figure since its formation. The number marks an increase of 28,95,002 tourists compared to 2024, reflecting sustained growth momentum.
Domestic tourism registered a 12.64 per cent rise year-on-year, while arrivals were 36.03 per cent higher than pre-Covid levels, signalling a full-scale rebound from the pandemic slump.
Among districts, Idukki led in domestic tourist footfall with 46,79,800 visitors. It was followed by Ernakulam (44,29,899), Thiruvananthapuram (43,75,846), and Thrissur (31,24,696), indicating a broad-based spread of tourism activity across the state.
Riyas noted a significant shift in regional trends as well. North Kerala — stretching from Thrissur to Kasaragod — once accounted for just six per cent of total tourist arrivals, but its share has risen considerably in recent years, pointing to improved infrastructure and promotion efforts.
The minister credited the state government’s strategic planning after the Covid-19 crisis for the turnaround. When the LDF government returned to power in 2021, the tourism industry was reeling from prolonged lockdowns, with fears that some destinations might shut permanently.
“To revive the sector, we held consultations with all stakeholders and prepared a phased recovery plan,” Riyas said. “We had a clear roadmap for how tourism should move forward once restrictions eased, and that clarity has helped us strengthen arrivals.”
He added that digital integration, targeted marketing, and infrastructure upgrades were key elements of the revival strategy. Efforts are also underway to modernise PWD rest houses to offer affordable accommodation options for visitors.
With the ongoing completion of National Highway 66 upgrades, Riyas said connectivity across Kerala would improve significantly, enabling easier access to remote destinations and further boosting tourist inflow.
The record figures, he said, underscore Kerala’s position as one of India’s leading tourism destinations and provide fresh momentum for the sector’s continued expansion.
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