Kochi has emerged as the most popular destination among foreign tourists visiting Kerala, overtaking Thekkady and other major tourist centres in the state. According to tourism department figures, Kochi welcomed 1,98,202 international visitors during the 2025-26 financial year.
Thekkady secured second place with 79,736 foreign tourists, followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 72,407 visitors. Munnar ranked fourth with 67,744 international tourists.
Other popular destinations included Kumarakom, Kovalam and Alappuzha. Kumarakom attracted 63,394 foreign visitors, while Kovalam welcomed 61,228 tourists and Alappuzha recorded 45,566 visitors.
Kozhikode city, Maradu, Kuttanad and Varkala were also among the destinations preferred by international travellers.
Kerala Welcomes Over 8.2 Lakh Foreign Tourists
Kerala recorded a total of 8,21,999 foreign tourist arrivals during the 2025-26 financial year. International visitors spent an estimated ₹7,382.02 crore in the state, highlighting the importance of tourism to Kerala’s economy.
Foreign tourist arrivals have shown steady growth in recent years.
In 2021, Kerala received just 60,487 international visitors. The number increased to 3,45,549 in 2022 and reached 6,49,057 in 2023. By 2024, foreign tourist arrivals had climbed to 7,38,374.
The latest figures indicate continued growth in international travel to Kerala.
UK Sends the Highest Number of Tourists
The United Kingdom remained Kerala’s largest source of foreign tourists, with 1,22,137 visitors, accounting for 14.86% of total international arrivals.
The United States ranked second with 1,07,613 visitors, followed by Oman with 65,132 tourists.
Oman recorded particularly strong growth. The number of visitors from the country increased from 38,387 in 2024 to 65,132 in the latest figures, helping it secure third place.
Germany ranked fourth with 49,125 visitors, followed by France with 47,008.
Other major source countries included Malaysia with 43,692 tourists, Australia with 37,238, the Maldives with 32,324 and Saudi Arabia with 31,593 visitors.
Gulf Tourists Contribute Strongly to Tourism Revenue
Tourists from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are also becoming increasingly important to Kerala’s tourism industry.
According to the tourism figures, visitors from GCC countries tend to spend more during their trips, making them an important source of tourism revenue.
The sharp increase in visitors from Oman reflects growing interest in Kerala among travellers from the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, Kochi’s leading position highlights its importance as a major international tourism destination. Its historic attractions, waterfront areas, cultural experiences and access to other tourist centres make it an attractive choice for foreign visitors.
With rising international arrivals and strong spending by overseas travellers, Kerala continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s leading tourism destinations.
