Kerala records over 2.58 crore tourist arrivals in 2025, highest ever: Minister P A Mohammed Riyas

Kerala recorded its highest-ever tourist arrivals in 2025, Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said on Monday, describing the milestone as a major boost for the state’s travel and hospitality sector.

Addressing reporters, the minister said that 2,58,80,365 visitors from outside the state travelled to Kerala last year — the largest figure since the state’s formation. Compared to 2024, this marked an increase of 28,95,002 tourists.

Riyas noted that domestic tourist arrivals grew by 12.64 per cent year-on-year and were 36.03 per cent higher than pre-Covid levels, highlighting a strong recovery for the industry.

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).

The minister also pointed to changing travel patterns within the state. He said that regions in North Kerala — spanning Thrissur to Kasaragod — previously accounted for only about six per cent of total arrivals but have seen a notable rise in recent years.

Reflecting on the sector’s revival, Riyas recalled that when the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government returned to power in 2021, Kerala’s tourism industry was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The sector was on a ventilator, and there were concerns that some destinations might never reopen,” he said. To address the crisis, the government consulted stakeholders and implemented a phased recovery strategy aligned with post-pandemic conditions.

According to the minister, a combination of policy measures and technology-driven initiatives contributed to the rebound. He added that PWD rest houses are being upgraded to provide more affordable accommodation options for travellers.

Riyas expressed confidence that infrastructure improvements, particularly the completion of National Highway-66, would further enhance connectivity and encourage tourism growth in remote districts.