Thiruvananthapuram, November 13, 2026: Kerala Tourism Minister Shri P.C. Vishnunath held an interactive meeting with the Executive Committee members of the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) on November 11 at Vivanta by Taj, Thiruvananthapuram. The meeting focused on strengthening Kerala’s position in international tourism markets, adopting emerging technologies and developing innovative tourism products to attract global travellers.
During the interaction, the Minister shared his experiences from two major international travel trade events, ITB Asia in Singapore and World Travel Market (WTM) in London. He highlighted his participation throughout all three days of both events, which provided opportunities for extensive interactions with international travel trade representatives and leading travel publications.
The Minister noted the growing international interest in Kerala’s leisure and wellness tourism offerings, particularly Ayurveda, which continues to be one of the state’s distinctive attractions in global tourism markets.
He also highlighted the enthusiastic response to Kerala’s cultural presentations at the tourism stalls during these international events. Traditional art and cultural performances attracted considerable attention, with numerous visitors photographing the performances and sharing them on social media, generating additional visibility for Kerala tourism.
ATTOI Presents Development Agenda for Kerala Tourism
ATTOI President Anish Kumar P.K., Founder and CEO of The Travel Planners, presented a comprehensive tourism development agenda focusing on technology, innovative tourism experiences, international marketing and destination development.
One of the major proposals was to organise the fifth edition of the International Conference on Tourism Technology (ICTT), an initiative pioneered by ATTOI.
Anish Kumar emphasised the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini in travel planning and booking decisions.
“Travellers are increasingly using AI platforms to discover destinations, compare hotels and select tour packages. Kerala’s tourism stakeholders must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to adapt to this transformation. The proposed fifth edition of ICTT will focus on AI-driven tourism marketing, digital visibility and emerging technologies that can help tourism businesses remain competitive,” he said.
Kerala Kalagramam and Village Life Tourism Proposed
ATTOI also proposed the development of Kerala Kalagramam, a dedicated cultural village showcasing the state’s rich artistic heritage through traditional performances such as Padayani, Mohiniyattam, Thiruvathira, Ottamthullal and other indigenous art forms.
The proposed cultural village would offer tourists an opportunity to experience Kerala’s diverse performing arts in an authentic village setting while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for traditional artists.
Another proposal focused on establishing a Kerala Village Life Experience Tourism Project in Alappuzha, where international and domestic tourists could participate in traditional village activities such as fishing, coconut climbing, coir making, screw-pine weaving, toddy tapping and guided walks through paddy fields.
The initiative aims to promote community-based tourism, preserve traditional occupations and ensure that tourism benefits reach local communities.
ATTOI Proposes Second Edition of Yoga Ambassadors Tour
Recalling the success of the Yoga Ambassadors Tour organised by ATTOI in 2018, Anish Kumar highlighted how the initiative helped promote Kerala as an international yoga and wellness destination.
The programme brought yoga practitioners and influencers from different countries to Kerala, many of whom subsequently promoted the destination and facilitated yoga group visits.
ATTOI expressed its willingness to organise the second edition of the Yoga Ambassadors Tour, focusing on attracting international yoga communities, wellness retreat organisers and holistic health travellers to Kerala.
The initiative is expected to further strengthen Kerala’s positioning as a leading destination for yoga, Ayurveda and wellness tourism.
Destination Infrastructure, Houseboats and Film Tourism Discussed
The meeting also addressed several challenges and opportunities facing Kerala’s tourism industry.
ATTOI representatives highlighted the need for improved tourism infrastructure at major destinations, better visitor facilities and effective destination management.
Concerns regarding noise pollution during festivals and public celebrations, particularly its impact on tourists seeking peaceful holiday experiences, were also raised.
Issues associated with shared houseboat operations and the need to maintain quality standards in Kerala’s backwater tourism sector formed another important part of the discussions.
The participants also explored the potential of film tourism, including opportunities to attract film productions and promote destinations featured in movies.
Another proposal focused on making Kerala’s tourism destinations more Instagrammable through visually attractive public spaces, creative installations, improved viewpoints and culturally inspired photo opportunities that encourage travellers to share their experiences on social media.
Focus on Indian Diaspora in the UK and USA
ATTOI proposed targeted international promotional campaigns aimed at the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The initiative would involve Kerala tourism presentations and promotional events in major international cities to position Kerala as an attractive destination for family holidays, multigenerational travel, destination weddings and special celebrations.
ATTOI emphasised that the Indian diaspora represents a valuable market segment with strong potential to generate repeat visits and high-value tourism business for the state.
ATTOI Leadership Participates
The meeting was attended by ATTOI President Anish Kumar P.K., Secretary Hari K.C., Vice President Janeesh, Treasurer Chandrasenan P.S., Joint Secretary Ramesh, and Executive Committee members Jayachandran, Sreekumara Menon, Subash Gosh, Manu, Nishad, Pradeep and Salan Moni, along with a past president of the association.
The interaction provided an opportunity for the tourism industry to present practical proposals and discuss emerging challenges directly with the Tourism Minister.
ATTOI reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Kerala Tourism and other stakeholders to strengthen the state’s global competitiveness through technology adoption, responsible tourism, innovative tourism products and international market development.
