The mart has seen strong business interest, with exhibitors reporting new leads, bookings and enquiries from domestic and international buyer (Photos: India and You/Masrat Nabi)
Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026, which began in Kochi on Thursday, has seen generation of strong business interest for exhibitors as the three-day event entered its final day.
From new bookings and fresh leads to enquiries from international and domestic markets, exhibitors are seeing varied opportunities across Ayurveda, wellness, destination management services and business travel.
KTM 2026 sees strong interest in Ayurveda, wellness and travel services
From Ayurveda resorts seeking European and Australian clients to a Kerala DMC reporting new bookings and a B2B travel platform onboarding agents, exhibitors says the mart has generated business opportunities across different segments.
For Lasa Ayurveda and Wellness Resort, Kochi, the strongest enquiries have come from Australia and Europe, with buyers looking for a boutique wellness experience.
Vaishali V Deo
“We have had a great response at KTM this year, meeting with a strong number of potential partners, particularly from Australia and Europe, who are looking for a relaxing, riverfront boutique wellness experience,” Vaishali V Deo, Director, Lasa Ayurveda and Wellness Resort tells India & You.
She says that the new season is just getting underway. “While we haven’t locked in any formal partnerships yet, we are following up on some promising inquiries and expect to see them materialise in the coming months,” she added.
The response reflects the continued interest in wellness products, but exhibitors say buyers are increasingly looking for specific experiences rather than a broad Kerala package.
At Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, the focus has been on buyers seeking Ayurveda, yoga and meditation.
Chithra
“This year’s KTM has been significantly better and more productive for us compared to previous years. We have seen a lot of new buyers who are genuinely interested in Kerala’s wellness sector and our authentic Ayurveda, yoga and meditation treatments. While our client base spans across the globe, the European market remains our primary driver of business,” Chithra, Corporate GM, Somatheeram Ayurveda Group tells India & You.
Ayurveda has also generated strong demand for longer programmes at Ayur on the Beach. The resort reported nearly 100 appointments on the first day, with European and Russian buyers showing interest in its seven-day and 14-day packages.
Sivanandhan R
“This year’s KTM has been exceptionally well-organised, with noticeably better stall arrangements and overall execution compared to previous editions. Business has been strong we completed nearly 100 appointments on the first day alone, with even higher footfall expected today,” Sivanandhan R, Resort Manager, Ayur on the Beach tells India & You.
He adds that buyers, particularly from Europe and Russia, are primarily seeking seven-day and 14-day authentic Ayurveda packages.
For Kerala-based DMC Travelogue Holidays India, however, the focus has been broader, with the North Indian market emerging as a key source of business.
Haseela
“KTM is always a fantastic platform for us, and this year is no exception. We have had a busy schedule over 50 meetings yesterday alone focusing heavily on the North Indian market,” Haseela, Director, Travelogue Holidays India tells India & You.
Mathews Elias
As a Kerala DMC with a fleet of more than 300 premium vehicles, the company is seeing demand for transport and tour services across South India, with several new bookings already secured.
The exhibitor response also extends to B2B technology and distribution. MakeMyTrip’s myPartner vertical, which works directly with travel agents, reported strong footfall and a measurable pipeline of new agents and leads.
“KTM has seen excellent footfall this year, with more than 200 meetings and visitor interactions since yesterday. We have already onboarded around 10 new agents and generated 30 to 40 fresh leads, which we are actively following up on,” Mathews Elias, Zonal Manager for Kerala, MakeMyTrip’s myPartner vertical tells India & You.
