More than 300 exhibitors from Kerala, other South Indian states, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are expected to participate
Seeking to expand its presence in the Middle East travel market, Kerala will host Indo-Arab Connect 2026 in Kochi from August 31 to September 2. The tourism and travel trade summit will bring together tour operators, hospitality stakeholders and exhibitors from Arab countries to promote tourism, Ayurveda, medical value travel and luxury hospitality.
In a press statement, the organisers say that the event will focus on tourism, Ayurveda, medical value travel and luxury hospitality.
The statement adds that the summit will include a business-to-business networking platform bringing together 200 tour operators from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Iran, along with 500 domestic buyers from tourism, hospitality, Ayurveda and medical tourism sectors.
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More than 300 exhibitors from Kerala, other South Indian states, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are expected to participate. Ambassadors and trade representatives from nine Arab countries will also attend the event.
P C Vishnunadh
Following the summit, participating tour operators will travel across Kerala between September 2 and 9 as part of familiarisation tours covering Ayurveda resorts, medical tourism centres, backwater destinations and luxury hospitality properties, adds the statement.
According to organisers, the event aims to strengthen Kerala’s visibility in the Middle East travel market and increase tourist arrivals from Arab countries in the coming years.
Releasing the event logo in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, P C Vishnunadh, Tourism Minister, Kerala said tourists from Arab countries will play an important role in the future growth of Kerala’s tourism economy.
“Arab tourists will be a major catalyst for the growth of segments such as Ayurveda, medical tourism, luxury tourism and the souvenir industry,” said Vishnunadh.
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According to the Minister, Arab travellers already contribute significantly to Kerala’s inbound tourism sector and help support visitor numbers during the June-September off-season period.
V D Satheesan, Chief Minister, will inaugurate the summit on August 31. Tourism ministers from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Puducherry are also expected to attend.
Rasheed Kakkad, President of the Association of Arab Tour Operators, says that the travellers from Arab countries consistently rank among the world’s highest spenders on accommodation, dining and shopping. Despite geopolitical uncertainties in parts of the Middle East, outbound travel demand remains strong, with Kerala-bound bookings expected to increase in the coming season, he added.
Ravisankar KV, Managing Editor of Tourism India Media Group, says that the objective of Indo-Arab Connect 2026 is to provide Arab travel trade decision-makers with an immersive experience of Kerala’s tourism ecosystem, particularly in Ayurveda, medical value travel and luxury hospitality.