‘Kerala for All,’ a two-day knowledge conclave on inclusive and accessible tourism convened by the Kerala Tourism in partnership with The Hindu Group, will begin at the Hotel Grand Hyatt, Kochi, on Saturday (January 31, 2026).
Policymakers, industry leaders, designers, economists, accessibility practitioners, and travellers will share the stage on the first day as it will bring together policy intent, expert perspectives, lived experience, and design practice to debate on the central question of what it will take to make tourism truly inclusive.
Minister for Public Works and Tourism P. A. Mohamed Riyas will deliver the keynote address at 10.30 a.m.
Suresh Nambath, Editor, The Hindu, will deliver the welcome address.
The opening session, ‘What Makes Tourism Truly Inclusive’, will bring together perspectives from design and hospitality to examine inclusion as a principle that must inform every stage of the tourism journey—from arrival and accommodation to movement through public spaces. It will be followed by a session on ‘Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Legacy,’ reflecting on the State’s long-standing commitment to community-led and sustainable tourism models.
The session on ‘Accessible and Inclusive Reflections’ (AIR) from global best practices for tourism will examine how destinations across the world have built accessible tourism systems while providing comparative insights into policy frameworks, design standards, and institutional coordination.
The session on ‘Voices from the Road: Lived Realities of Diverse Travellers’ will highlight the everyday challenges faced by travellers navigating the environment. Minister for Industries P. Rajeeve will give a special address on ‘The Role of Industries in Advancing Inclusive and Accessible Tourism in Kerala’.
The session on ‘Integrated Inclusive Tourism: Economic Impact, Community Participation and Policy Synergy’ will focus on the perspectives on economic impact, community participation, and policy synergy.
The sessions on ‘Accessibility First: Designing Tourism without Barriers’ and ‘Designing Accessible Spaces: Infrastructure, Transport and Public Areas’ will bring together architects, urban designers, planners, and accessibility experts to address inclusive design across scales, from streets and transport systems to public buildings and tourism infrastructure.
The final session of the first day, ‘Integrating Accessibility and Inclusion into Sustainable Tourism: Challenges, Gaps, and the Way Forward’, will reflect on systemic barriers that persist despite policy intent and outline pathways for bridging gaps between regulation, design, and on-ground implementation.
A sinkari melam performance by Team Poombatta will mark the conclusion of the inaugural day of the conclave. Svayam, a leading Indian non-profit championing barrier-free and inclusive environments, is the Knowledge Partner for the event.
Published – January 30, 2026 09:27 pm IST
