KOCHI: Kerala is stepping up efforts to strengthen its tourism ties with the Arab world, with the state government seeking to attract more travellers from Gulf and other Arab countries through closer industry partnerships, targeted promotion and new travel connectivity initiatives.

Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan has called for greater engagement with tour operators across the Gulf, describing the relationship between Kerala and Arab countries as one rooted in long-standing social, cultural and economic ties.

Speaking at the Indo-Arab Connect 2026 tourism event in Kochi, the Chief Minister said Arab visitors should not be viewed merely as tourists but as part of Kerala's wider family. He also announced plans to explore cruise ship services connecting Kerala with Gulf countries, adding a new dimension to the state's efforts to strengthen tourism links with the region.

175 Arab Tourism Professionals Attend Kochi Meet

The Indo-Arab Connect 2026 programme brought together around 175 tour operators and travel agents from 10 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan.

The event gave Kerala's tourism industry a chance to meet international buyers and showcase hotels, resorts, Ayurveda centres, houseboats, tour packages, and other tourism products. A series of business-to-business meetings formed an important part of the programme.

The participating Arab tourism professionals are also taking part in a familiarisation tour of Kerala, visiting major destinations including Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam and Wayanad. The programme is designed to give international travel professionals first-hand experience of Kerala's tourism products and help them develop new holiday packages for their customers.

Arab Market Seen as Major Growth Opportunity

Kerala Tourism is increasingly looking at the Arab market as an important source of future international visitor growth. Tourism Minister P. C. Vishnunath has said that the state plans to devote a significant share of its tourism marketing efforts to attracting Arab travellers.

Kerala received more than 100,000 Arab tourists in 2025, according to recent reports, with a significant proportion arriving during the June-to-September period. This is particularly valuable for Kerala's tourism industry because the period traditionally falls within the state's tourism off-season.

A sustained increase in visitors from the Gulf could therefore help hotels, resorts, houseboats, Ayurveda centres and tour operators maintain stronger occupancy and business activity during the traditionally quieter months.

Cruise Tourism Could Open a New Gulf Connection

Kerala is also exploring new possibilities for cruise connectivity. The state has announced plans for cruise terminals in Kochi and Kozhikode, while the government is examining cruise services connecting Kerala with Gulf destinations. Such connectivity could create new opportunities for coastal tourism and provide an alternative travel experience for visitors from the Middle East.

The proposed initiatives form part of a broader strategy to strengthen Kerala's links with the Arab world and position the state as a destination for tourism, healthcare, wellness and investment.

Opportunity for Kerala's Tourism Industry

The Gulf market is particularly important for Kerala because of the deep people-to-people connections between the state and the Arab world. Kerala's established Malayali diaspora in Gulf countries, direct air connectivity, familiarity with Indian culture and availability of Arabic-speaking tourism professionals provide the state with advantages when competing for Middle Eastern travellers.

Kerala is also well positioned to offer products that appeal to the Arab market, including luxury resorts, Ayurveda and wellness, medical tourism, private houseboat cruises, family holidays, nature experiences and premium destination weddings.

The latest Gulf-focused tourism initiative signals a shift from simply welcoming Arab visitors to actively building a dedicated international tourism market around their needs and travel preferences.

With stronger cooperation between Kerala's tourism industry and Arab travel companies, the state hopes to turn its historic relationship with the Gulf into a significant new growth engine for international tourism.