The last two years have put the spotlight on health and wellness. As the world recovers from Covid-19, it is important to assess various policy issues to kick start the tourism economy. One key pillar is health and wellness tourism.
Before the outbreak of Covid-19, India, with its world-class medical infrastructure catered to those with high disposable income, had attracted patients from Southeast Asia, the African continent and other developing countries. The decline in Covid-19 cases has once again galvanised the Indian government to implement policies to attract medical tourists.
The government has earmarked a national strategy and roadmap for medical and wellness tourism to develop India as a wellness destination.
Disclosing this in Parliament, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. It focuses on developing a brand for India as a wellness destination. Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism. Enable digitalization by setting up Online Medical Value Travel (MVT), portal and enhance accessibility for Medical Value Travel.
In order to provide a dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism has constituted a National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board with the Hon’ble Minister (Tourism) as its chairman.
‘Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purposes to foreign travellers coming to India for medical treatment. To promote Medical Tourism in the country, the Government of India is extending the e-medical visa facility to the nationals of 156 countries.
According to a report, the Indian medical tourism industry was valued at US $ 6 billion at the beginning of 2020 and this can only multiply if we focus our attention on formulating policies that will keep all stakeholders in mind.
One of the areas that the government should focus on is organising roadshows across source markets and these should include not only tour operators but also hospitals that can showcase their expertise to select groups of outbound operators from these destinations.
We also need to take into account that India faces competition from other destinations such as Thailand and Singapore for medical tourism and we have to iron out difficulties. It begins with the e-visa for medical tourists. Though the government has liberalised the policies, it should also give leeway for those who recover from their medical condition to travel to tourist destinations to soak in the experiences that the destination has to offer.
Private players, namely hospitals should put forth their wish list to the government and guide the government in framing policies that will help them upgrade the hospital infrastructure. It is not only the premium hospitals that attract medical tourists but also the mid-level hospitals.
Overall, this will be a great step in promoting India as a wellness destination.
