KTM 2026 puts Keralam’s living traditions at the heart of experiential tourism

Kochi / September 25, 2026

Kochi, Sept 25: The ongoing Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026 has turned into a venue to showcase the state’s growing emphasis on experiential tourism, with business delegates and participants being introduced to living traditions, performers, craftspeople and community-led experiences.

The event featured before the delegates drawn from different parts of the world an amazing range of experiences reflecting Keralam’s cultural and artistic heritage from Pulikali and Kathakali to traditional crafts, music, food and boat-building.

In a live demonstration of the state’s cultural expressions,  nine people from different parts of Keralam, whose lives represent music, tradition, celebration, craftsmanship, sustainability, hospitality and community, performed and interacted with the audience at the event. The initiative positioned them not simply as custodians of tradition but as custodians of the Kerala experience.

One of them, Nelson Xavier, popularly known as Nelson Master, has spent nearly six decades keeping the musical traditions of Mattancherry alive. Introduced to the clarinet by his father at the age of 10, he later mastered the saxophone and became a musician, teacher and mentor. His performances of Malayalam melodies, including yester-year hit “Pranasakhi Njan”, offered visitors an opportunity to connect with Mattancherry through its musical heritage.

The experience took a culinary turn with the appearance of A. T. Basheer from Kozhikode. Known as Mittayi Basheer, he has preserved the local delicacy Panchara Paal Mittayi (sugar-milk toffee) for more than five decades. The confectionery tradition, inherited from his father, involves turning sugar, water, and lemon juice into rings, watches, birds and many other shapes.

Thrissur's famed Pulikali offers another example of a living cultural experience. Tony C. S. of Ollur was among the artists keeping the folk tradition alive. It takes six to seven hours of preparation to transform performers into tigers before they hit the streets to the ear-dinning sound of chenda, thakil and udukku.

The show also takes the viewers through traditional crafts. Purushan Mararikkulam continues to make Olapeeppi and other toys from coconut leaves, using a pocketknife to turn fresh coconut fronds into various shapes.  His workshops and cultural programmes have helped pass on this fast-fading craft to the new generation.

Tourism experiences are also linked to heritage interpretation at the event. Sathyan C., known as Sathyan Edakkad, a decorated former Kerala police officer, narrated how legends and lived experiences had shaped traditional and folk art forms.

The backwaters provide another layer to the experiential tourism offerings of Keralam. Sudevan from Alumkadavu in Kollam, who represents a family that preserves traditional boat-building knowledge, narrated how the kettuvallam (houseboat) transformed from a cargo vessel into one of Kerala's best-known tourism experiences.

Craft traditions featured prominently elsewhere. In Thazhava, Kollam, artisans transform screw-pine leaves into Thazhappaya mats and a range of contemporary lifestyle products including beach mats, cushions, hats and bags. The experience is presented as an opportunity for visitors to encounter the communities and craftsmanship behind the products.

Master craftsman and architect Kozhimukku Sabu Narayanan Ashari represents another generation of traditional boat builders. His work on Chundan Vallams (snake boats) connected visitors with the craftsmanship, teamwork and community traditions associated with Keralam's backwaters.

Going beyond Keralam's traditional arts, crafts and community-led experiences, KTM also offers visitors glimpses into the natural diversity of the state.

ENDS

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