KOCHI, September 23, 2026: Kerala is set to host the 13th edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026 from September 24 to 27, bringing together thousands of international and domestic tourism buyers, sellers and industry representatives for one of the country's major tourism trade events.

The four-day mart will provide a major platform for Kerala's tourism industry to showcase its destinations, products and experiences to travel trade professionals from India and overseas. The event is organised by the Kerala Travel Mart Society with the support of Kerala Tourism.

More than 3,000 buyers registered

According to the latest preparations reported by the organisers and industry sources, 800 international buyers and 2,250 domestic buyers have registered for KTM 2026. A total of 383 tourism sellers have completed stall bookings, while 25 stalls representing various government institutions will also be part of the event.

More than 45,000 business meetings have already been scheduled, highlighting the scale of the B2B engagement planned during the mart. The meetings will bring together tour operators, travel agents, hotels, resorts, houseboats, homestays, destination management companies and other tourism service providers.

Inauguration in Kochi

The official inauguration is scheduled for September 24 at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre. The main exhibition and business-to-business meetings will take place from September 25 to 27 at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island.

The official KTM website describes the event as a major platform for showcasing Kerala to the global travel market, with emphasis on leisure and culture, wellness and Ayurveda, responsible tourism, adventure and experiential travel.

Kerala destinations in the global spotlight

KTM 2026 comes at a significant time for Kerala tourism, as the state seeks to expand its international and domestic tourism markets while promoting experiences beyond its traditional destinations.

The mart will provide tourism businesses with opportunities to develop partnerships with buyers from different source markets and promote a wider range of Kerala experiences, including backwaters, beaches, hill stations, Ayurveda, wellness, wildlife, adventure, culture and heritage tourism.

For destinations such as Munnar, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Vagamon, Wayanad, Thekkady and Bekal, participation in the wider tourism trade ecosystem can help create new business connections and increase their visibility among travel professionals.

Familiarisation tours after KTM

The tourism activity will continue after the main event. Post-mart familiarisation tours are scheduled from September 28 to October 3, covering 12 regions of Kerala. These tours will allow participating buyers to experience tourism products and destinations directly and potentially incorporate them into future tour programmes.

Invited domestic and international media representatives are also participating in pre-mart familiarisation programmes designed to generate wider coverage of Kerala's tourism offerings.

Digital platform for business networking

Another feature of KTM 2026 is its expanded digital infrastructure. The organisers have introduced digital systems for registration, meeting scheduling and access to event information, with the official website also providing updated programme and participant information.

With thousands of buyers, hundreds of tourism sellers and tens of thousands of scheduled business meetings, KTM 2026 is expected to be an important business networking opportunity for Kerala's tourism and hospitality sector.

The event also reinforces Kochi's role as a major hub for Kerala's tourism trade and provides an international platform for promoting the state's diverse destinations and emerging tourism experiences.