Revealing the agenda and targets for tourism for the next 5 years, PC Vishnunath, the Tourism and Culture Minister of Kerala has said that the new Congress-led state government has big goals and targets to make tourism important growth engine for the state.
This include identifying and opening 20 new destinations each year in order to decongest and diversify the existing destinations and products, thereby double the tourism revenue of the state. Vishnunath said this in an interaction with select media at Kochi.
As per 2025 estimates, Tourism generated approximately 46,000 crore revenue for the state. The state had received around 8.2 lakh foreign tourists (+11%) and 25 million domestic tourists (+12%) in 2025, the minister said.
Talking about state’s continued focus on sustainable and responsible tourism, the Tourism Minister said that the department will soon commence a carrying capacity study of destinations to regulate over tourism in key destinations. Implementation of industrial benefits to tourism businesses is part of 100-day agenda of the government.
The Ninister also spoke about steps being taken to improve Ease of Doing Business in Tourism, and make the sector investor-friendly. He said that the government has set in motion the decision to extend the benefits of Industry to tourism business in the 100-day agenda of the United Front government. The formal announcement is expected on October 9, as the new VD Satheesa- government completes 100 days in power in the state.
Vishnunath informed that that the department has completed the stakeholder consultations and entered into inter-departmental consultations to formalise the roll out.
The government is also exploring how the single window clearance system available for SMEs of other sectors could be extended to tourism investments as well to overcome the current approval and permission related delays in projects.
In order to make destinations safe for visitors, especially adventure tourists, the minister said that a couple of legislations to regulate adventure activities in the state is under government’s consideration.