Kerala has been identified as one of the best tourism spots globally and the number of tourists visiting the state is growing.
Besides, more than 2 million Keralites are working in Gulf and influence of the increasing number of Kerala-born NRIs was transforming shopping habits of Malayalees in their homeland.
State has few malls at present but by 2010, the Queen of Arabian sea, Kochi city is expected to have at least a dozen big shopping malls.
It is certainly heading for a boom in mall construction while Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode are two other centres set to get new shopping outlets, with the first shopping mall scheduled to open by 2007 in Kozhikode.
Riding on the back of mall construction drive, a host of reputed retail chains recently announced plans for entry into Kochi market.
Bazaars will house more than 100 globally acclaimed jewellers.
Most mall promoters said they were getting good response from Indian and international retail chains.