Wayanad is set to emerge as a key hub for women-led tourism initiatives as it hosts the second edition of Evolve 2026 – Tourism B2B Meet at Saptha Resort & Spa on January 31, 2026. The event is being organised by the Women Tourism Fraternity of Kerala (WTFK) and is expected to witness strong participation from tourism stakeholders across South India. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, “Evolve 2026” aims to strengthen business networking, promote responsible tourism, and enhance women’s leadership in the travel and hospitality sector.
Strong Industry Response and Participation
Speaking about the event, Ms. Husna Mohammed, President of the Women Tourism Fraternity of Kerala, revealed that the second edition has seen overwhelming industry response. This year, the meet will feature more than 100 sellers, including hotels, resorts, Ayurveda and wellness centres, tour operators, adventure parks, and houseboat operators from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The event is also hosting around 400 major buyers from key domestic source markets in South India, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi, and Kozhikode. The response from buyers has exceeded expectations, with over 1,500 buyer registrations already received from various South Indian cities.
Promoting Kerala as a Responsible Tourism Destination
The primary objective of Evolve 2026 is to promote Kerala Tourism by bringing together tourism stakeholders, travel companies, hotels, and buyers on a common platform. The event also seeks to highlight Kerala as a responsible, resilient, and women-inclusive tourism destination, while fostering meaningful B2B partnerships. Under Ms. Husna Mohammed’s leadership, WTFK successfully organised its first B2B Meet in Wayanad, playing a crucial role in tourism revival efforts following the landslide incidents in the region. The second edition is expected to further strengthen industry collaboration and reinforce women’s participation in tourism trade.
A Young Leader Driving Change
Ms. Husna Mohammed, a tourism professional and entrepreneur, is recognised as one of the youngest tour operators in India. Inspired by her father’s 26-year career in tourism, she was exposed to the industry from a very young age. After completing her 10th standard, she began working full-time in tourism and, at just 19 years old, has already made a significant impact on the industry. Through her offices in Tirur and Malappuram, she has trained over 100 students, many of whom are now placed in international tourism and hospitality roles across various countries. At the age of 18, she co-founded and officially registered the Women Tourism Fraternity of Kerala, making it India’s first women-led tourism association dedicated exclusively to supporting women professionals in the sector. Her global exposure includes travel to more than 10 countries for tourism education, destination studies, and industry engagement, and her leadership and contributions have been recognised with awards from major tourism associations across India.
The Women Tourism Fraternity of Kerala (WTFK) was founded with a clear vision to create a strong, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism ecosystem by empowering young professionals, especially women, through education, industry exposure, and leadership opportunities. The organisation’s key aims include generating sustainable employment opportunities in tourism and hospitality, strengthening women’s leadership and representation in the travel trade, promoting responsible and resilient tourism development, and positioning India as a source of skilled tourism professionals globally.
Event Highlights
The Women Tourism Fraternity of Kerala (WTFK) presents this exclusive B2B Meet in Wayanad as a dynamic one-day business platform designed to bring together the biggest names from the travel and hospitality industry. The event will feature a powerful gathering of tour operators, travel companies, hoteliers and resorts, homestays, destination management companies, travel service providers, tourism innovators, and medical tourism representatives, all under one roof for networking, collaboration, and fresh business opportunities. With 150-plus stalls, 500-plus buyers, 200-plus hosted buyers, and major buyer participation from the Malabar region, the event runs from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and provides an ideal platform for expanding market reach, showcasing products, building strong partnerships, and connecting with key players in tourism.
With Evolve 2026 – Women Tourism B2B Meet scheduled at Saptha Resort & Spa, Wayanad, WTFK is poised to further strengthen Kerala’s tourism ecosystem while setting a national benchmark for women-led tourism initiatives.
