By Kerala’s Tourism sector will be featured prominently at the February 21-22 Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS 2025) in Kochi, as a premium global brand that promises immense investment opportunities in various verticals.
Identified as a focus sector in the government’s New Industrial Policy, the investment potential of the tourism sector will be presented before a wider audience including leaders from tourism and hospitality industry converging at IKGS, at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre, Kochi.
A strong pillar of Kerala’s economy, tourism contributes over 10% to the state’s GDP and engages 24% of the workforce. The state attracts approximately 2.3 crore tourists annually, drawn by its diverse offerings. Today, Kerala has firmly established itself as a global tourism destination.
Significantly, IKGS coincides with a massive surge in tourist footfalls to Kerala as an integrated all-season experiential tourist ecosystem that promises diverse attractions to visitors.
Panel sessions on ‘Global Gateway to Medical Excellence, Ayurveda and Wellness Tourism (Feb 21, 2: 00 pm)’ and ‘Destination for Sustainable Tourism Responsible Industry’ (Feb 22, 10: 00 am), will focus on the new areas that hold investment potential in tourism sector.
Apart from the scope of scaling up infrastructure in time-tested destinations including backwaters, beaches and hill stations, the tourism-centric sessions at the IKGS will also roll out a clutch of newly identified spots across the state.
The meet will also showcase the scope of investment in tourism-related startups, in the backdrop of Tourism Department’s partnership with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) for leveraging innovative ideas and technologies to present tourism products across the globe.
Noting that panel sessions on Tourism sector at the event will be seeking ways to ramp up investment, Industries Minister Shri P Rajeeve said “The growth potential of Kerala Tourism has gone up many fold with the state firming up its position as a hub of MICE (Meetings, Incentiv Exhibitions and Conferences) tourism and destination weddings”.
Kerla’s diverse tourist destinations and availability of world class resorts and hotels make the state a preferred destination for weddings and gatherings, he noted.
After the Covid 19 crisis, global tourists are preferring Kerala as an ideal tourist destination owing to state’s diverse tourist spots, sustainable and eco-friendly tourism practices, ideal climate and air quality and world class facilities.
Ecological and adventure tourism, women-friendly tour packages, cultural and heritage tourism and food tourism are among other rising domains in the state.
Tourism Department’s initiatives like gender inclusive tourism and responsible tourism are markers to a new direction in which the state’s tourism sector is heading towards.
IKGS 2025 is organised by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) on behalf of the Department of Industries & Commerce.
Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event and Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, Shri P Rajeeve will preside over the inaugural session.
Union and State Ministers, Industry leaders and around 3000 investors, entrepreneurs and bureaucrats will converge at IKGS 2025, which will also be attended by entrepreneurs and business delegations from 6 different countries.
