Medical tourism may be defined as ‘activities related to travel and hosting a foreign tourist who stays at least one night at the destination region for the purpose of maintaining, improving or restoring health through medical intervention.

The Medical Tourism Segment consists of tourists seeking specialized medical treatments, ayurvedic cures, yoga, naturopathy, spa sessions & other therapies. The primary purpose is both preventive and curative treatments, maintaining good health & a sense of well-being. India has invested heavily in AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy). Medical tourism and wellness retreats constitute the main reason of visitation of an estimated 21.0% of India’s annual international travellers, capitalizing on top-tier healthcare amenities and traditional healing methods. In order to boost Medical Tourism in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. The Strategy has identified two key pillars; (i) Develop a brand for India as a wellness destination (ii) Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism. The Indian wellness market is growing at a staggering pace and is set to cross $72 billion by 2025. It is estimated that the market is presently growing at a CAGR of 28%, mainly stemming from growing demand for wellness, healing, and long-term rejuvenation primarily from the domestic travellers. Within the wellness industry, three large segments namely, curative and preventive wellness, hair & skincare and alternate therapy services, account for more than half of the market in India. Cosmetics, slimming services and slimming products continue to be the fastest growing segments within the market. Once believed to be a periphery story in hospitality, the sector is now moving to the core. The government is also extending its support in the form of AYUSH ministry. It’s important to note that its happened first time in the globe when a dedicated ministry has been established in a country focusing completely on alternate healthcare. In a post-pandemic world, there is a growing trend of weekend gateways, taking short-haul breaks, and spending quality time in the midst of nature. This will further help the sector grow at a staggering pace.