India is seeing a boom in Wellness Tourism, said Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed here on Friday.
"Wellness Tourism is one of the growing segments of travel to India. Ministry of Tourism does not compile data on foreign tourist arrivals for Wellness tourism. However, total FTAs in India during 2009, 2010 and 2011 were 5.17 million, 5.78 million and 6.29 million (prov.), respectively. The percentage of Foreign Tourist Arrivals to India for Medical Tourism increased from 2.2% in 2009 to 2.7% in 2010," Ahmed said in the Lok Sabha.
"Development & Promotion of Tourism including Health & Medical Tourism is primarily the responsibility of State Governments & Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism sanctioned Central Financial Assistance of Rs.10.00 lakh to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the project (Phase-I) involving development of pre-qualification standards for member hospitals of the Medical Tourism Society during 2011-12," he said.
He said the Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance under the Market Development Assistance Scheme (MDA) to approved medical tourism service providers i.e. representatives of hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) and National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and medical tourism facilitators (travel agents/tour operators).
The Ministry also provides assistance under this scheme to approved wellness centres i.e. representatives of wellness centres accredited by NABH or the State Governments. The MDA assistance is for participation in medical/tourism fairs/medical conferences/wellness conferences/ wellness fairs and allied road shows. "The Ministry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for Wellness tourism.
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