Kerala’s Domestic Tourism Surges: Ernakulam Tops the List, Idukki Close Behind
A remarkable surge in domestic tourism has been witnessed in Kerala, with Ernakulam emerging as the most visited destination, closely followed by Idukki. In the span of six months from January to June 2023, the state welcomed an impressive 1.06 crore domestic tourists, marking a 20.1% increase compared to the 88.95 lakh visitors during the same period in 2022. This surge even surpasses the pre-COVID levels recorded in 2019 when 88.64 lakh tourists visited.
Kerala’s Minister of Tourism and Public Works, Mohamed Riyas, expressed that this surge signifies the state’s successful recovery in domestic tourism beyond pre-pandemic levels.
Furthermore, there has been a substantial rise in international tourism, with 2.88 lakh tourists visiting the state, marking an impressive 171.55% increase compared to 2022 figures.
The tourism department reported significant growth in revenue, reaching Rs 35,168.42 crore in 2022, a substantial increase from Rs 12,285.42 crore in 2021.
During the first half of the year (January-June), the highest number of tourists explored Ernakulam district, with 22.16 lakh visitors. Idukki secured the second position with 18.01 lakhs, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (17.21 lakhs), Thrissur (11.67 lakhs), and Wayanad (8.71 lakhs).
Tourism Director P.B. Nooh emphasized that Kerala’s potential to attract more tourists could be further harnessed through innovative tourism offerings and promotional initiatives.
