A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness Tourism in India by Dr. Prem Jagyasi– Facts, Statistics, Attractions, Research, and Trends

Wellness tourism in India has a unique appeal for exotic nature, Ayurveda, Yoga, alternative treatments, and nonetheless its unique cultural, religious, and spiritual mosaic. India ranked 7th in the global wellness tourism market in 2017 recording 56 million wellness trips and generating $16.3 bn in revenue. Despite global uncertainties and turbulences, tourism attractions in India continue to wield magic for domestic and international travelers.

Global wellness tourism is growing at a much faster rate than any other form of tourism. A shift in travel intent, with individuals valuing wellness during vacations, has spiraled this growth. People have realized that splurging in wellness fetches better returns without compromising on pleasure.

This guide delves into India’s wellness tourism trends and statistics, its unique wellness propositions, and future outlook.

The Global Trend Towards Authentic Wellness Experiences

Wellness tourism in India is riding on the global travel trend seeking local, authentic, immersive, and indigenous experiences with life-transforming impact. Meaningful experiences are replacing mindless destination hopping.

Travelers are more interested in long-lasting impacts on every dime spent. Globally, India is perceived as a land of heritage and cultural wisdom. Travelers get abundant opportunities to explore all dimensions of wellness, essential for optimal well-being.

What Makes Wellness Tourism in India Unique?

India has a unique healing and wellness culture developed through centuries of wisdom. Government initiatives in positioning India as a center of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, and Siddha clubbed with the spiritual philosophy have further elevated the destination’s wellness appeal.

Adding to India’s healing heritage is its magnificent natural landscape presenting dramatic variations across the length and breadth of the landmass. If exotic beaches are not enough for your wellness journey, the majestic Himalayas in the north can be your sanctuary to wellness. If you seek wellness amidst wilderness, dense forests and lush valleys are there to satisfy your needs.

To cater to this growing demand, wellness hospitality in India has gone through remarkable makeover. Luxurious and affordable wellness resorts have emerged as popular global brands with innovative wellness programs blending traditional healing and contemporary treatments.

In a nutshell, India’s rich traditional healing system, modern outlook on well-being, spirituality, and abundant nature makes it unique for wellness tourism. If one has to reap the benefits of wellness tourism, hardly any other destination could match India.

Healing Heritage – Top Attraction of Wellness Tourism in India

Mind-body programs like meditation, yoga, and breathwork are integral to traditional healing in India. With more research-backed evidence, Yoga and meditation have become very popular worldwide. Wellness travelers in India not only seek Ayurvedic packages and naturopathy treatments but also Yoga, meditation, and breathwork. A few days of detox program, Panchakarma, Shirodhara, Ayurvedic massages, and beauty treatments in serene wellness resorts serve the dual purpose of wellness and vacation.

The expectations of visitors are well met in India with the mushrooming of a rainbow of wellness resorts throughout the country. The wellness market has further fillip not only from foreign travelers but also from the domestic ones. The issues of unwellness are everywhere in the world irrespective of geographical locations. Individuals are seeking sustainable ways for their well-being. Wellness tourism experiences under expert supervision and guidance can show the way.

How Wellness Tourism in India is Growing?

If you ask why wellness tourism in India is growing? The answer would be the resurgence of the deep-rooted 5000-year-old Ayurveda system of healing and wellness under the auspices of the AYUSH ministry. A shift in the healthcare approach from reactive care to preventative care has gone in favor of wellness tourism in India. People are seeking effective and trusted modalities for well-being management to minimize the risk of chronic diseases.

Research and evidence have boosted the popularity of traditional Indian healing practices in far-flung corners of the world. Notably, these practices have been the chief components of global wellness tourism. India, being the birthplace of Ayurveda, meditation, yoga, and pranayama (breathwork) creates a stronger “pull factor” in attracting patients and wellness seekers from all over the world. Needless to mention, Ayurvedic treatments are integral in medical and wellness tourism programs in India in various wellness resorts and healthcare facilities.

Yoga is one of the oldest cultural heritages of India. It has become enormously popular as an alternative medicine under CAM. Yoga was popular in India from ancient times, though, it started becoming popular in the West after the 1960s, and the number of people practicing Yoga is rising with each passing day.

India’s Competitive Edge in the Wellness Industry

The market in India is developing rapidly and it is ahead of most countries. The country has emerged as the 2^nd largest exporter of Ayurveda and alternative medicine in the world. 80% of the global population is known to use alternative medicine.

India, with a rich diversity of more than 8000 medicinal plants, stands as a global leader in traditional and alternative medicine. It is long forgotten that 40% of approved pharmaceutical products are derived from plants and natural substances.

The skepticism on traditional and alternative medicine is fading thanks to the growing number of certified practitioners and therapists providing research-backed, effective, and sustainable solutions. The number of patients treated with the government Ayush system of medicines has registered a sharp growth from 25 million in 2017-18 to 43 million in 2020-21.

The Indian Ayush sector has seen a phenomenal 17% Y-O-Y growth between 2014-20 touching $18.1 Bn in 2020 from just $2.85 Bn in 2014. The sector is expected to generate 3 million jobs in the coming years. (InvestIndia).

The foundation of the Global Center for Traditional Medicine in collaboration with WHO has been a major stride for the Indian wellness industry enhancing the destination attractiveness by several notches. Many Indian spas are working towards striking a balance between genuine indigenous therapies and cutting-edge medical treatments creating more attractive propositions.

The Role of the Government in Promoting Wellness Tourism

India has an advantage of its unique wellness halo, as it is perceived to be a centre for spiritual activities. India has always been a popular destination in the west for people seeking spiritual growth. Apart from this India also offers a variety of cultural and culinary experience. Since the 2002 ‘Incredible India’ campaign launched by the Government of India, the travel to this country has increased.

The Ministry of tourism has now drafted guidelines for combined medical tourisn and wellness tourism in India. It addresses publicity, training, and capacity building issues. It has extended its Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme to wellness tourism providers, including accredited wellness centers in various states. All this has had a positive impact on the wellness tourism in this country.

Growing Medical Tourism Complementing Wellness Tourism in India

Studies reveal great Wellness Tourism potential in India. Thanks to its quality healthcare facilities, a giant pool of specialist doctors, and alternate options in medical treatments like Ayurveda and yoga, India is a fast emerging medical and wellness tourism market. Each year India attracts millions of tourists for top quality and affordable medical services. This increase in the medical and wellness tourism industry has not just strengthened the country’s tourism and economy but also led to advancements in medical services, manpower, and infrastructure.

Cost-Effective Treatments in India

Studies have revealed that the wellness and medical tourism in India is gaining in popularity because of the nation’s cost-effective treatments. The doctors, nurses in most hospitals, and spa technicians are trained and skilled to operate at top quality. It has been cited that a person who travels to India to receive medical or wellness services can save approximately 30-70% in terms of procedure costs.

Even when considering the ticket and living expenses in India, the total price comes way lower than what countries like the US and UK charge. The recent sharp decline in the value of Indian Rupee has become a boon for medical travelers. This means they get more medical services at extremely affordable prices.

Alternative Medicine and Its Advantages

India offers better services in alternative treatment methods when compared to other nations. Ayurveda is an ancient medicine form that is practiced in India and is popular because of its low degree of side effects. With a dedicated department called Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), the government supports further development and research in these forms of medicine. By learning the ways of self-healing, many people can benefit and naturally cure their ailments in India.

The Future of India’s Medical Tourism Market

India to rule the medical tourism market by 2019. Another study conducted by a US-based independent and non-profit research and innovation center, SRI, revealed that wellness tourism in India is expected to rise by 50% in the next four years. With the nation’s abundance of knowledge and natural ways of curing ailments like Ayurveda and Yoga, the nation’s tourism for medical services is expected to increase at a rate of 20% annually from 2017. There are a number of yoga retreat camps that are been conducted by various companies backed by the National Wellness and Medical Tourism Board in India.

Government Support for Medical Tourism

By integrating tour operators and agents, Wellness Spas and centers, hospitals, and medical tourism facilitators, the government of India has recognized the nation’s potential in wellness tourism. From promotional activities like seminars/workshops/events to providing a maximum of INR 10.00 lakh to stakeholders on a 50:50 ratio of cost sharing, the board set up for wellness tourism is working towards publicizing the nation more and more. The Ministry of Tourism is also going to fund medical centers to hold training courses for skill up-gradation and certification courses to individuals involved in this industry.

Enhancing Access to Medical Services

By providing tourist visas on arrival to citizens of 43 countries through Electronic Travel Authorization, the nation has opened its doors to welcome tourists without the hassles of applying for visas beforehand. For tourists arriving for medical services, the nation has announced a special M-visa, which can be extended to 12 more months beyond its one-year issue period.

Yoga and Naturopathy Programs

Many wellness groups in the nation are offering yoga classes, naturopathy and Ayurveda, panchakarma, and detox programs in a single retreat. These classes take place in a number of exotic locations so that the members of the programs can experience the great cultural and spiritual wealth of the nation. Many wellness retreats take place in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Andaman, Kerala, Bangalore, and many more places, and attract hundreds of tourists each year.

How wellness and medical tourism policy will facilitate its growth in India?

India is set to roll out its first medical and wellness tourism policy on 21^st June, The World Yoga Day, in a bid to strengthen its foothold in the global medical tourism market. Already, the country is enjoying a top ranking as per the medical tourism index in terms of destination quality and the medical support provided to beyond the border patients.

The tourism ministry is confident that with this policy India can reign the global medical tourism scenario offering a highly competitive price along with the service quality as per international standards. In view of the estimated medical tourism market of India valued at 7-8$ billion by 2020, it is expected that in coming two decades medical tourism in India can fetch almost the same benefits as what the IT industry has earned past 25 years.

Need of the hour:

This new policy is expected to boost the inflow of foreign medical travelers who would experience a hassle-free treatment and a comfortable stay in this country. The framing of this policy came in the wake of India’s improved ranking in World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) for 2017.

India scaled 40^th rank among 136 countries, 12 points up from the last year’s ranking of 52. In 2015, India ranked 65 in this index. India also posted an appreciable growth rate in terms of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) which is 10.7% against the global rate of 3.9%. The introduction of medical e-visas to citizens of 161 countries has heightened the chances of increased number of foreign tourist footfalls in near future.

To meet the demands of the huge foreign crowd, implementation of a well framed policy is imperative. Many a time, lack of transparency in services and information turns out to be a big deterrent in medical tourism growth and many countries are suffering a huge setback due to this. In the absence of any well-defined policy, unauthorized service providers and facilitators get the opportunity to indulge in rampant malpractices giving scary experiences to the foreign health travelers. This spoils the reputation of the country.

What is in the policy?

When a healthcare seeker plans for overseas medical assistance, doubts and concerns rage in his/her mind, which is quite obvious. India government will launch an information portal where all the authorized service providers would be listed leaving no room for ambiguities.

Foreign travelers would be advised to seek medical treatments only with those accredited institutions/clinics listed in the portal. For this, the government has decided to register all the hospitals and wellness centers in the web portal after checking their standards of service. The ministry is also emphasizing the registration of medical care assistance providers after providing due training.

Transparency in the pricing structure along with the service package would also be listed clearly enabling the abroad travelers make a pick of his/her choice. Often, cropping up of sudden hidden costs leaves the foreigner patients in dismay and they leave the country with a bad taste.

This would prevent such unpleasant experiences assuring the patients of the best value for their money. The portal would also present a list of the procedures offered by the hospitals and wellness centers and the success rates.

The inclusion of notable cardiac surgeon Naresh Trehan and Yoga Guru Ramdev in the national medical and wellness tourism board has further boosted the future prospects. The presence of noted personalities in the board strengthens its credibility erasing traces of hesitation from the minds of foreign travelers.

The tourism minister Mr. Mahesh Sharma is stressing on providing quality healthcare support to the foreign nationals only by the accredited institutions. This would save millions of foreign travelers from being deceived of the services assured to them.

Only a policy cannot bring about great changes unless the key stakeholders shoulder enough responsibility while discharging their services. Quality of service delivery matters most while dealing with beyond the border patients.

To sustain this, a collective effort is required from all relevant sectors. Infrastructure development, training of personnel, hiring the right professionals and above all maintaining a hospitable ambience to the utmost satisfaction of the overseas patients will take India’s medical tourism sector many steps ahead.

Accreditation of Wellness Tourism Facilities – The Growing Need

The burgeoning wellness tourism in India needs stringent quality checks through clearly laid out accreditation policies. This system ensures that wellness tourism providers adhere to service quality and safety protocols offering desired outcomes and mental peace to wellness travelers.

The need for accredited wellness tourism providers and facilitators will be even more in the coming years. This will prevent well-washing and foster a competitive environment encouraging providers and wellness tourism facilitators enhance their offerings through best practices. Destinations with set accreditation policies will outperform their peers with more word-of-mouth referrals. Such policies elevate the quality of wellness tourism adding credibility about its benefits and support sustainable growth.

Sustainable Wellness Tourism – A Path Forward

India with tremendous potential in wellness tourism cannot overlook eco-friendly and responsible practices. In the long run, these will be the prime differentiators. Today, 80% of global travelers consider sustainable tourism important. Sustainable wellness tourism practices are rewarding. A survey says, over fifty percent of travelers are willing to pay more for those prioritizing environmental stewardship.

Fortunately, India is a leader in promoting sustainable tourism. Wellness tourism activities involve deep interaction with nature, and if this is not preserved this promising niche will run out of all its attractions and benefits. That could be costly and disastrous!

The future of India’s wellness tourism will rest on practices and policies safeguarding its natural assets. The country needs actionable strategies to promote harmonious existence of health and wellness experiences aligned with nature. It might entail restricted exploration of destinations rich in natural diversity and enhanced promotion of wellness real estate curbing unregulated construction.

A collective participation from government, hospitality sector, tourists, and other stakeholders is necessary to acknowledge the importance of sustainability contributing to a resilient and thriving wellness tourism ecosystem beneficial to all.

Get Dr. Prem’s Support in Wellness Tourism Destination Brand Building

Dr. Prem, with this extensive travelling experience to 65+ countries and deep knowledge in global wellness tourism, has been instrumental in brand building for reputed wellness tourism destinations. Leveraging his profound expertise in wellness tourism consultancy, Dr. Prem excels in uncovering hidden wellness tourism assets of a destination transforming them into compelling narratives.

He possesses unique skills in integrating wellness assets with modernity creating a significant differentiator for the destination. Your destination gets recognition and fame for authentic wellness experiences. If you are struggling to enhance your destination appeal and visibility, book a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Prem today.

A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness Tourism in India by Dr. Prem Jagyasi– Facts, Statistics, Attractions, Research, and Trends