Tourism News
Kerala Tourism Strengthens East Asian Links Through Malaysia Airlines Partnership
Kerala Tourism Strengthens East Asian Links Through Malaysia Airlines Partnership and Expanded Connectivity
Kerala Tourism deepened its outreach to East Asian markets through a strategic partnership with Malaysia Airlines, marking a significant step forward in the state’s Look East policy. Launched in Thiruvananthapuram on April 9, the initiative included a series of familiarisation (FAM) tours and business-to-business (B2B) meetings designed to build strong ties between Kerala’s tourism stakeholders and counterparts across the Asia Pacific region.
As part of the collaboration, Kerala hosted a delegation of 75 guests, including 40 leading outbound tour operators and 17 prominent social media influencers from countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The delegation engaged with local tourism operators, cultural practitioners, and artisans, experiencing first-hand Kerala’s diverse offerings.
Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, inaugurated the B2B meet and FAM trip, highlighting the initiative’s role in opening new markets and positioning Kerala as a premier global destination. Senior officials including Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Smt Arya Rajendran, District Panchayat President Shri P Suresh Kumar, Kerala Tourism Secretary Shri Biju K, Chief Commercial Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group Mr Dersenish Aresandiran, and Kerala Tourism Director Smt. Sikha Surendran also participated in the launch.
Adding further momentum, Malaysia Airlines announced an increase in flight frequency between Kuala Lumpur and Thiruvananthapuram, expanding from four to five flights per week from June 6. This enhanced connectivity is expected to significantly boost tourist arrivals, aligning with Kerala’s objective of deepening engagement with emerging tourism markets.
Malaysia Airlines, the only full-service premium carrier operating on the route, noted that the expansion would strengthen Kerala’s accessibility to key cities across Asia Pacific. Mr Dersenish Aresandiran described the partnership as a long-term investment in Kerala’s tourism future, with plans for further increasing services in the pipeline.
Tourism Secretary Shri Biju K emphasized that the Look East initiative was a mutually beneficial partnership, actively involving airlines, hospitality sectors, and tour operators to promote Kerala’s brand in international markets. Presentations by Kerala Travel Mart Society Secretary Shri Swaminathan S and South Kerala Hoteliers Forum Secretary General Shri Prasad Manjali further showcased the collaborative opportunities within this growing engagement.
This integrated approach reflects Kerala’s commitment to diversifying its tourism portfolio and achieving sustained growth in tourist inflow from East Asia.
