Kerala tourism needs to move beyond backwaters and package holistic journeys: Panelists at KTM 2026

Keralam needs to broaden its tourism offerings beyond its established backwaters and traditional attractions and develop more holistic, personalised journeys as traveler expectations evolve, industry leaders said at a seminar at the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026

Key Takeaways
- Beyond backwaters & beaches: Panelists urged Kerala to diversify tourism offerings into holistic journeys combining wellness, nature, and culture.
- Personalisation: Seen as the new luxury. Hotels must balance consistent standards with tailored guest experiences.
- Wellness & monsoon tourism: Identified as underutilized strengths that could attract more visitors year-round.
- AI in hospitality: Framed as a support tool, not a replacement. AI can handle routine tasks, freeing staff to focus on human-led guest relations.
- Customer reviews: Increasingly powerful in shaping hotel reputations and providing real-time feedback.

Voices from the Panel
- Vineet Mahendru (TCI & SITA): “We have to design products for customers, not for photo sake.”
- Samir M C (O by Tamara): Highlighted wellness and monsoon tourism potential.
- Ravi Gosain (IATO): Emphasized personalisation across timing, food, and experiences.
- Consensus: AI is valuable, but “You are never going to replace a human with AI to receive a guest.”

Implication for Kerala Tourism
Kerala’s next growth phase lies in curated, personalised journeys that blend its natural assets with evolving traveler expectations, supported by technology but anchored in human hospitality.