Kerala Tourism and The Hindu Group to host Kerala for All conclave on inclusive and accessible tourism

Kerala has already made remarkable progress in responsible and community-led tourism, and the next step in this journey is to build an ecosystem that is truly inclusive and accessible for all. Articulating this intent, Kerala Minister for Public Works and Tourism P. A. Mohamed Riyas said: “Kerala has long believed that tourism must be responsible, inclusive, and rooted in community well-being. Through this conclave, we are taking a decisive step towards making accessibility and inclusivity the cornerstones of our next phase of tourism development.” He highlighted the State’s commitment to building tourism systems that serve all visitors.

The conclave is designed to provide Kerala with insights and global perspectives to shape its approach to inclusive tourism. Kerala Tourism, Secretary, Biju K. said: “This conclave is an important knowledge platform to assess where Kerala stands today and what we must build for tomorrow. By bringing together global experts, policymakers and practitioners, we aim to translate dialogue into a clear, actionable framework for inclusive and accessible tourism in the State.” The conclave will explore themes such as accessibility, gender inclusion, digital enablement, infrastructure design, mobility planning and hospitality readiness, with the aim of translating global best practices into actionable insights for Kerala.

For meaningful impact

The partnership also reflects The Hindu Group’s role in convening policy-relevant conversations on issues of national and global importance. Suresh Nambath, Editor, The Hindu, highlighted the need for sustained discourse in the public sphere involving the wider civil society to inform policy action and government initiatives. “At The Hindu, we are committed to using our publishing platforms in shaping conversations and driving policies that create meaningful impact. This partnership with Kerala Tourism is a demonstration of the importance we place on accessibility and inclusion in tourism.” Events such as the conclave can help bridge the gap between intent and implementation, he added.

Highlighting the collaborative nature of the initiative, Suresh Balakrishna, Chief Revenue Officer, The Hindu, said the platform would connect government, industry and civil society to drive meaningful change. “This conclave reflects our belief that meaningful partnerships can drive real-world change at scale. By collaborating with Kerala Tourism on a platform of this depth and intent, The Hindu aims to curate and support dialogues that inform and influence how destinations plan and deliver inclusive tourism experiences,” he said.

The conclave will feature an eminent gathering of ministers, senior government officials, experts in accessible and inclusive design, representatives from United Nations agencies, urban planners, architects, infrastructure specialists, hospitality leaders, industry associations, NGOs and community voices. Insights and recommendations from the conclave will be consolidated to inform Kerala’s roadmap for inclusive and accessible tourism, strengthening the State’s commitment to building a tourism ecosystem that is accessible to all. Svayam, a leading Indian non-profit championing barrier-free and inclusive environments, is the Knowledge Partner for the conclave.

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