Wellness tourism to open more doors for the tourism sector
The Medical tourism sector in India has been growing for a while. Our country is very well positioned in the space and over a period of time made a mark for offering world-class medical treatment. There are a number of factors that have helped India in becoming the preferred destination for medical tourism. The country boosts of a great infrastructure and has made active progress in the field of medical science. Moreover, unlike the west, there are no queues and people can instantly get the medical help that they need. As opposed to European and American countries, the cost of getting treatment in India is much lesser. Most metros in the country also offer great connectivity to major global hubs making it easier for people to travel in case of a medical emergency.
Having established ourselves in medical tourism, India is now gearing up to be the wellness capital of the world. Though India made rapid progress in the medical sciences, it has been strong in traditional medicine since time immemorial. In the post-pandemic world, people too are looking for alternative ways to stay healthy. They are connecting with nature and looking at alternatives to modern medicine.
The government too is laying a lot of emphasis on the growth of this sector and working on a framework to promote medical tourism, wellness tourism and yoga, Ayurveda tourism and other formats of the Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).
Over the years, the AYUSH sector has been thriving and the COVID-19 wave has given it a new push. Talking about the numbers, the AYUSH sector clocked a mere $3 billion in 2014 and it has touched a staggering $8 billion in 2022. To promote the sector, PM Modi also recently announced that the ministry will soon be rolling out Ayush-based visas. Steps are also being taken to encourage startups to be interested in the field of Ayush, wellness and traditional medicine. Recently, an incubation centre developed by the All India Institute of Ayurveda was inaugurated.
As the country starts to improve its status as a wellness destination and becomes a major spot for wellness tourism, the tourism sector too is expected to benefit from this growth. People who come here to experience alternative medicines and learn yoga or receive Ayurvedic or Unani medicine would also be open to exploring other tourism spots. Places like Goa, which have always been a hot favourite among tourists are expected to see a spurt in their business. This would have a ripple effect on other related and unrelated sectors. The hospitality industry that has been impacted badly due to the ongoing pandemic, will get a newer customer set. At the same time, the holiday home segment that has been booming will also benefit immensely as wellness tourism grows.
People that come to the country to master these techniques or to get treatment would look at comfortable stay options. Holiday homes thanks to their world-class amenities and proximity will be the first choice for these tourists. Axis Ecorp has made a formidable mark for itself in the holiday home segment. Its uber-luxurious holiday homes will be the perfect place for tourists who may be looking at investing in a home rather than staying at a different hotel for their frequent trips. Since these places are completely serviced so tourists and NRI will not even have to worry about the maintenance aspect in their absence.
