“Digital agenda and artificial intelligence to redesign tourism” is the theme of World
Tourism Day 2026.
We are living in times when AI increasingly shapes how we work, how we travel and
how we connect.
A global brand, Kerala Tourism has over the years leveraged innovative tools and
platforms in promoting tourism, a vital sector that contributes significantly to the State
GDP.
Be it print, electronic or digital, we have made strategic use of communication tools to
successfully promote God’s Own Country around the world.
Never lagging in connecting to the technologies of the time, we have already started
integrating our tourism sector with the AI and cutting-edge digital ecosystem to meet
the demands and preferences of today’s tourists.
This is especially important since Keralam is reshaping the tourism sector to tap the
state’s vast potential to emerge as an international experiential destination, promising
diverse offerings to the visitors.
Our aim is to see that tourists coming to the state are treated with a wholesome
Keralam experience, marking a shift from the approach of promoting a few places and
products separately through destination-focused packages and products.
Seamless communication that enables easy access to services and information is vital in
achieving this totality. It is also important to make the whole range of travel and
hospitality services from bookings to payment and guest relations hassle free. New
technologies and platforms come in handy to achieve these goals.
The State Tourism Department, in collaboration with the stakeholders, has already
started exploring how AI can help make our tourism sector smarter, more inclusive and
sustainable.
This will impart speed and scale to tourism activities in the state, in a highly competitive
domestic and global scenario.
The upcoming Tourism Policy of the government will be giving greater thrust to the
initiatives in that direction.
The government’s decision to accord industry status to the tourism sector will certainly
expedite this process.
The Government will also come out with programmes to promote startups in tourism
sector. Kerala’s robust startup and innovation ecosystem will be encouraged to develop
smart solutions to enhance the efficient and prompt delivery of tourism services. This
will also increase the youth engagement in tourism sector. The industry leaders could
help this process by supporting young innovators by providing funds and mentorship.
The new technologies can also be leveraged for improving the management of tourism
destinations and infrastructure. We need to ensure that our travel and hospitality
services follow the best management practices and world standards. Barrier-free access
to tourism is also important.
The Tourism Department has already drawn up a programme to help homestays adopt
technology-driven management practices to improve their quality.
Sustainability and inclusivity have been the core ideals of our tourism development.
Integrating the ecosystem with cutting-edge technologies will certainly enhance the
experience of visitors. That will also generate a lot of job opportunities in the sector.
While setting out on this transformational journey, we also want to ensure that the
service providers down the line are not left out.
Our Responsible Tourism initiative is globally appreciated. At the grassroots it has
assumed the dimensions of people-driven movement. Local communities have
contributed significantly in turning this segment into a lived experience. The RT has also
helped economic empowerment of women. Considering this, we will roll out more
initiatives to connect this key vertical with AI and digital platforms. This goes well with
our vision of reconfiguring Kerala Tourism into an integrated ecosystem bridging gaps
and touching every life.
As observed by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: World Tourism Day
celebrates the many ways tourism connects cultures and enriches lives. This vision
aligns well with the direction Keralam’s vision of reshaping travel experiences by
adopting transformational ideas and technologies.
P C Vishnunadh (Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinema, Govt of Keralam)
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