National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism to develop India as brand for wellness destination: G Kishan Reddy
E-Medical Visa facility for
nationals of 156 countries to promote medical tourism in the country
Recognising
medical value travel and wellness tourism as important sectors having the
potential of accelerating the country’s development, Ministry of Tourism has taken
several steps to promote India as a Medical and Wellness tourism destination.
In order to create a robust framework and synergy amongst
the Central Government Ministries, State Governments and Private Sector for
promoting India as a Medical and Wellness Tourism destination, Ministry of
Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness
Tourism. The strategy document focuses on the following key pillars:
(a) Develop a
brand for India as a wellness destination
(b) Strengthen
the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism
(c) Enable
digitalization by setting up Online Medical Value Travel (MVT) Portal
(d) Enhancement of
accessibility for Medical Value Travel
(e) Promoting
Wellness Tourism
(f) Governance and Institutional
Framework
In order to provide dedicated institutional framework to
take forward the cause of promotion of Medical Tourism, Ministry of Tourism has
constituted a National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board with the Minister
(Tourism) as its chairman.
As part of its on-going activities, Ministry of Tourism,
releases global print, electronic and online media campaigns in important and
potential markets overseas, under the ‘Incredible India’ brand-line, to promote
various tourism destinations and products of the country. Digital promotions
are also regularly undertaken through the Social Media accounts of the Ministry
on different themes including the theme of Medical Tourism.
'Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given
for specific purpose to foreign travellers coming to India for medical
treatment. To promote Medical Tourism in the country, Government of India is
extending e-medical visa facility to the nationals of 156 countries.
Ministry of Tourism provides financial Assistance under
Market Development Assistance Scheme to Medical Tourism Service Providers
accredited by NABH for participation in Medical/ Tourism Fairs, Medical
Conferences, Wellness Conferences, Wellness Fairs and allied Road Shows.
Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 17,70,499 have been released to the
Wellness Tourist Service Providers and the Medical Tourist Service Providers
under the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme during the last four
financial years.
In order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the
Government has announced various measures for revival of tourism sector in the
country, which include medical and wellness tourism.
This information was given by Minister of Tourism G
Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.