Parliamentary panel proposes medical and wellness tourism initiatives for India

Despite its immense tourism potential, India ranks 39th in the global travel and tourism competitiveness index. To bridge this gap between the country’s capabilities and its actual market performance, a parliamentary panel has proposed expanding existing tourism products and introducing new initiatives like medical tourism corridors to position India as a global leader in medical and wellness tourism.

Building on the scheme announced in the budget ‘Heal in India’, the panel has urged the government to establish a comprehensive ‘medical and wellness tourism ecosystem’ that merges top-tier healthcare with premium tourism experiences.

To attract more international patients, it suggests setting up ‘medical tourism corridors’ in key cities, complete with international patient facilitation centres, specialised accommodation, wellness tourism packages, and cultural experiences.

This means when a patient looks for health packages in India, they can get a comprehensive list to design their visit. 

Beyond infrastructure, the panel has called for a stringent ‘medical tourism certification system’ as medical tourism is a specialised product where chances of a visitor going through a harrowing experience are very high.

A certification system will standardise healthcare services for international patients. It also recommends creating ‘international insurance coordination mechanisms’ to simplify payment processes and make medical tourism more accessible.

 

NRI outreach

The committee also pushed for a revamp of the ‘Chalo India Initiative’, originally aimed at encouraging the Indian diaspora to visit their homeland.

It suggests transforming it into a ‘strategic diaspora engagement programme,’ where members of the diaspora are trained and certified as tourism ambassadors. A structured tracking system would measure the impact of diaspora-driven tourism, rewarding top performers with incentives.

To further harness diaspora influence, the panel has proposed launching ‘Diaspora Tourism Innovation Grants’ to support creative projects that promote India’s tourism sector globally.

 

Targeting global competitiveness

Can India break into the top 20 global tourism destinations by 2030? The panel believes it can—with a well-structured plan.

It has recommended a ‘tourism competitiveness enhancement framework’ to analyse India’s strengths and weaknesses, leveraging its rich cultural and natural resources while addressing gaps in infrastructure and marketing.

A dedicated ‘tourism competitiveness task force,’ comprising industry leaders, academics, and policymakers, would be set up to identify and eliminate barriers hampering India’s rise in global rankings.

The framework would go beyond traditional tourism metrics, incorporating sustainability measures, digital readiness, and visitor satisfaction to ensure a holistic approach to boosting India’s tourism sector.

These strategic interventions, the panel argues, can position India as a premier global tourism destination, attracting more international visitors and strengthening its position on the world stage.

 

Tourism