Kalaiarasan Loganathan
Kalaiarasan Loganathan (born 14 December 1996), professionally known as Kalai Maldives, is an Indian travel entrepreneur and the founder of TheTourist360. He is known for building a global travel brand and for pioneering celebrity-led group tours in the Maldives.
| Kalaiarasan Loganathan | |
| Born | 14 December 1996 Vellakovil, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | B.E. (Computer Engineering) |
| Alma mater | Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of TheTourist360 |
| Parents | Loganathan Palaniappan (father) Sagunthala Natarajan (mother) |
| Awards | Tourism Business Icon 2025 |
Early life and education
Kalaiarasan Loganathan was born in Vellakovil, Tamil Nadu. His father, Loganathan Palaniappan, worked in the pre-owned car business and as a professional driver, while his mother, Sagunthala Natarajan, is a homemaker.
He completed his early education at Punitha Amala Annai School. He later moved to Coimbatore for higher studies and earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering from the Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology.
After graduation, he faced financial challenges due to an education loan and a period of unemployment in the IT sector. During this time, he worked as a video editor in the television industry before seeking opportunities abroad.
Career
Early struggles and Maldives move
In 2020, after facing difficulties with a fraudulent recruitment agent, Kalaiarasan secured a position as an Airport Representative at Velana International Airport in the Maldives. This role provided him with experience in tourism operations, guest relations, and logistics.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, global travel restrictions led to his temporary return to India. He later identified an opportunity in arranging 14-day quarantine transit stays in the Maldives for international travelers heading to the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Hong Kong. This marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
TheTourist360
Following the pandemic, Kalaiarasan founded TheTourist360, initially focusing on Maldives honeymoon packages. The company later expanded to international destinations including Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Europe.
Within India, the company organizes tours to Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Kashmir.
The company is particularly known for its "Celebrity-Led Group Tours", including:
- Anitha Sampath – Hosted multiple group trips to the Maldives between 2024 and 2026
- Celebrity clients – Managed travel for actress Samyuktha Shan, cricketer Anirudha Srikkanth, and actress Dharsha Gupta
- Influencer collaborations – Worked with creators such as Uma Telugu Traveller and Divin Prabhakaran across South Indian digital platforms
Recognition
- Tourism Business Icon 2025 – Recognised for contributions to the tourism sector
- Most Trusted Travel Company of South India 2025 – Awarded to TheTourist360
His journey has been featured in media outlets including The Hindu Tamil, Sathiyam News, and News 24x7.
References
External links
- Kalaiarasan Loganathan on IMDb