KOCHI, KERALA : The Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026 has crossed a record 3,000 buyer registrations, underlining strong domestic and international interest in Kerala's tourism products ahead of the four-day travel trade event in Kochi later this month. 

The registrations comprise 790 international buyers and 2,210 domestic buyers, making KTM 2026 the biggest edition in terms of buyer participation so far. The strong response is being viewed as an encouraging sign for Kerala's tourism industry as the state seeks to strengthen its presence in both established and emerging travel markets. 

KTM 2026 from September 24 to 27

The 13th edition of Kerala Travel Mart will be held in Kochi from September 24 to 27, 2026. The formal inauguration is scheduled for September 24, while the main business-to-business meetings and exhibition will take place from September 25 to 27.

The inaugural ceremony is scheduled at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, while the exhibition and B2B meetings will be held at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres

40,000 business meetings lined up

The scale of business engagement is another major feature of this year's mart. Around 40,000 business meetings have already been scheduled, creating opportunities for Kerala's tourism businesses to connect directly with travel buyers from India and overseas. 

As many as 382 tourism enterprises have completed stall bookings, while around 30 stalls representing government institutions are also expected to participate.

The programme will include business meetings, tourism policy discussions and seminars involving national and international experts.

Focus on Kerala's diverse tourism products

KTM 2026 will provide a platform for Kerala to showcase a broad range of tourism products, including leisure and culture, wellness and Ayurveda, responsible tourism, adventure tourism, MICE and experiential travel. 

The event is also expected to help tourism enterprises from destinations across Kerala connect with international tour operators, travel agents and other industry decision-makers.

For destinations such as Kumarakom, Munnar, Vagamon, Wayanad, Kovalam, Thekkady and Alappuzha, participation in a major B2B platform such as KTM provides an opportunity to promote destination-specific experiences to new markets.

Digital platform for business networking

A major change at KTM 2026 will be the extensive use of digital technology. Registration, B2B meeting scheduling and seminar-related processes are being managed through digital platforms, with a dedicated mobile application planned to provide participants with real-time information and support. 

Post-mart tours to showcase Kerala

The event will extend beyond the main exhibition. Post-mart familiarisation tours are scheduled from September 28 to October 3, covering 12 different tourism sectors. A separate pre-mart tour is also planned for invited national and international media representatives. 

These tours are intended to give buyers and media representative’s direct exposure to Kerala's tourism destinations and experiences, potentially helping convert business meetings into future travel programmes and destination promotions.

A major opportunity for Kerala tourism

The record buyer participation comes at an important time for Kerala's tourism sector. With more than 3,000 buyers and approximately 40,000 business meetings already scheduled, KTM 2026 is expected to generate significant business networking opportunities for hotels, resorts, houseboats, homestays, tour operators and other tourism enterprises.

The event will also serve as an important platform for Kerala to strengthen its international tourism connections and promote newer experiences alongside its established attractions.