Kerala Tourism in collaboration with Malaysia Airlines has launched a major initiative to explore the vast East Asian market as part of the “Look East” campaign. As part of this campaign, Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas welcomed the airlines' decision to increase frequency of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Thiruvananthapuram. Currently, four flights ply this route. Starting June 6, this will be increased to five to cater to the tourist footfall to Kerala from the Asia Pacific region, said the airlines in an issued release.
The launch of the Look East initiative, in collaboration with Malaysia Airlines, went beyond increasing connectivity between the two nations. The effort included a specially curated familiarisation trip for tour operators and social media influencers from eight countries, alongside a dedicated business-to-business (B2B) meet to foster strategic tourism partnerships. Around 40 tour operators and 17 top social media influencers from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, had joined the FAM trip.
Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas termed the initiative a strategic step that would increase the number of tourists visiting Kerala from China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Laos.
“Through the collaboration with Malaysia Airlines, Kerala Tourism is taking a giant leap towards the strategic vision of expanding Kerala’s outreach globally,” Riyas said. Noting that the tie-up was a significant milestone, Riyas said it opened “a new direction for Kerala Tourism to explore new markets.” He also urged industry leaders and stakeholders to seize the opportunity and welcome more tourists from the East Asian region.
The announcement was made at a gathering that was attended by Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor Arya Rajendran, District Panchayat President P Suresh Kumar, Kerala Tourism Secretary Biju K, Dersenish Aresandiran, the Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines at Malaysia Aviation Group, and Kerala Tourism Director Sikha Surendran.
The declaration regarding the strategic partnership between government of Kerala and Malaysia Airlines as part of the “Look East” policy was made on the occasion.
Tourism Secretary Biju K said the initiative was not just a marketing drive for the benefit of one party; instead, it had been conceived as a win-win partnership. Tourism stakeholders, including airlines, the hospitality industry, tour operators and service providers, are the key partners in this collaborative endeavour.
“This campaign is also a vital step in increasing awareness about Kerala’s diverse offerings in the Asian tourism market. We are launching the campaign by hosting a delegation comprising nearly 75 distinguished guests from eight countries, social media influencers, and 40 outbound tour operators from China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Laos,” Biju K said.
He added that the delegation engaged with various stakeholders, members of the local community, cultural practitioners and artisans. In fact, the B2B Meet was organised to foster collaborations within the tourism sector.
Dersenish Aresandiran said, “Thiruvananthapuram is emerging as a strategic outbound hub and Malaysia Airlines is proud to be the first premium Southeast Asian airline to operate wide-body aircraft to the city. We aim to increase flight frequency to four or five weekly services, eventually moving to daily operations.
“This is more than a route development—it’s a long-term investment in Kerala’s tourism potential. Through this partnership, we hope to connect Kerala with East Asia, Australia and beyond, showcasing the best of Malaysian hospitality and Kerala’s unique charm.”
Aresandiran added that the airline has brought its top global trade partners to experience Kerala first-hand, further strengthening the potential for increased inbound tourism through Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia Airlines continues to enhance its service offerings, including seamless connectivity, state-of-the-art aircraft, diverse inflight dining and complimentary WiFi.
Sikha Surendran gave a detailed presentation on Kerala Tourism, highlighting its unique offerings to tourists. Kerala Travel Mart Society Secretary Swaminathan S and South Kerala Hoteliers Forum Secretary General Prasad Manjali also presented at the event. Major stakeholders, including tour operators and hoteliers, were also in attendance.
This story was first published on April 14, 2025; and it has since been updated.
