Lok Sabha Question No. 1079 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Revenue Generated from Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1079 ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021

## REVENUE GENERATED FROM MEDICAL TOURISM

## 1079. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of foreign tourists who have visited the country for medical tourism during the period from 2009 to 2019;
- (b) the  country-wise  percentage  of  the  foreign  medical  tourists visited for the period from 2009 to 2020;
- (c) the number of foreign tourists who have visited the States of Kerala,  Tamil  Nadu,  Karnataka,  Maharashtra  and  Delhi  for medical tourism during the period from 2009 to 2020;
- (d) the revenue generated from Medical Tourism during the period from 2009 to 2020; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  development  and promotion  of  medical  tourism  to  augment  foreign  medical tourists in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a): Details of Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTA) for medical purpose during 2009 to 2019 are given below:

|   Year |   FTA on medical visa |
|--------|-----------------------|
|   2009 |                112389 |
|   2010 |                155944 |
|   2011 |                138803 |
|   2012 |                171021 |
|   2013 |                236898 |
|   2014 |                139447 |

|   2015 |   233918 |
|--------|----------|
|   2016 |   427010 |
|   2017 |   495056 |
|   2018 |   640798 |
|   2019 |   697453 |

Please note that till 2013 Ministry of Tourism used to compile purpose wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals on the basis of the information available from disembarkation card. From 2014 onwards,  data  purpose  of  Arrivals  has  been  compiled  by  clubbing various visa type categories in which foreign tourist travel to India. (b): The  details of percentage  distribution  of foreign tourists arrivals from leading countries for medical purpose during 2009 to 2019 are given in Annexure I. Purpose wise data for year 2020 is not available. (c): Data  on  purpose  wise  foreign  tourists  visits to different States/UTs is not centrally maintained by Ministry of Tourism. (d): Ministry of tourism, Government of India does not maintained data on revenue generated from tourism. (e): The  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  development  & promotion of medical tourism in the country are given in AnnexureII.

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ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1079  ANSWERED  ON  08.02.2021  REGARDING  REVENUE GENERATED FROM MEDICAL TOURISM

DETAILS  OF PERCENTAGE  DISTRIBUTION  OF  FOREIGN  TOURISTS  ARRIVALS FROM LEADING COUNTRIES FOR MEDICAL PURPOSE DURING 2009 TO 2019

| Nationality          | 2009 23.64    | 2010 22.99   | 2011 25.05   | 2012    | 2013 21.94 15.07   | 2014 43.24    | 2015 51.47   | 2016 49.21   | 2017 44.79 50.34   | 2018   | 2019 57.53   |
|----------------------|---------------|--------------|--------------|---------|--------------------|---------------|--------------|--------------|--------------------|--------|--------------|
| 0.00                 | % 4.34 %      | 6.48 %       | 7.56 %       | 9.31 %  | 0.54 %             | 4.86 %        | 7.76 %       | 9.62 %       | 9.25 %             | 8.07 % | IRAQ         |
| 31.42 %              | 23.53 %       | 22.02 %      | 17.49 %      | 9.57 %  | 1.93 %             | 0.78 %        | 2.46 %       | 9.16 %       | 2.12 %             | 7.31 % | MALDIVES     |
| 10.79 %              | 3.34 %        | 8.07 %       | 9.19 %       | 21.30 % | 7.89 %             | 11.76 %       | 14.34 %      | 11.25 %      | 7.31 %             | 4.73 % | AFGHANISTAN  |
| OMAN 4.32            | 3.73 %        | 4.00 %       | 3.32 %       | 3.28 %  | 3.82 %             | 3.55 %        | 5.86 %       | 5.69 %       | 4.30 %             | 3.21 % |              |
| % 0.50               | 0.31 %        | 0.74 %       | 1.15 %       | 1.40 %  | 6.15               | 2.26          | 2.07 %       | 2.40 %       | 1.85 %             | 2.39 % |              |
| YEMEN 0.34 %         | % 0.26 %      | 0.14         | 0.51         | 0.34 %  | % 0.96 %           | % 0.80        | 1.01         | 1.40         | 1.35 %             | 1.28 % |              |
| SUDAN KENYA 0.76     | % 0.81 %      | % 0.95 %     | % 1.29 %     | 1.57    | %                  | % 3.31 2.74 % | % 2.04 %     | % 1.51 %     | 1.25 %             |        | % 1.12 %     |
| NIGERIA 2.81 %       | 3.86 %        | 6.48 %       | 6.23 %       | 6.18 %  | 9.43 %             | 4.55 %        | 2.17 %       | 1.12 %       | 0.88 %             | 1.00 % |              |
| 0.04 %               | 1.20 %        | 1.58 %       | 1.75 %       | 1.82 %  | 4.05 %             | 2.64 %        | 1.30 %       | 1.02 %       | 0.82 %             | 0.74 % | TANZANIA     |
| 0.59 %               | 0.48 %        | 0.98 %       | 0.79 %       | 0.91 %  | 0.73 %             | 0.71 %        | 0.61 %       | 0.97 %       | 0.77 %             | 0.73 % | SAUDI ARABIA |
| SRI LANKA 3.43 %     | 3.25 %        | 3.53 %       | 2.78 %       | 1.66 %  | 1.60 %             | 1.29 %        | 1.00 %       | 0.90 %       | 1.04 %             | 0.58 % |              |
| 0.16 %               | 0.26 %        | 0.70 %       | 0.45 %       | 0.32 %  | 0.80 %             | 0.58 %        | 0.42 %       | 0.36 %       | 0.36 %             | 0.58 % | MYANMAR      |
| MAURITIUS 0.54 %     | 0.00 %        | 0.60 %       | 0.60 %       | 0.59 %  | 0.76 %             | 0.50 %        | 0.28 %       | 0.34 %       | 0.41               | 0.51 % | %            |
| 0.27 %               | 0.19 %        | 0.35 %       | 0.34 %       | 0.23 %  | 0.26 %             | 0.21 %        | 0.18 %       | 0.23 %       | 0.23 %             | 0.26 % | BAHRAIN      |
| PAKISTAN 0.65 %      | 0.30 %        | 0.56 %       | 0.77 %       | 1.23 %  | 3.03 %             | 1.55 %        | 0.93 %       | 0.36 %       | 0.25 %             | 0.20 % |              |
| UNITED STATES 2.14 % | 1.19 %        | 1.41 %       | 1.82 %       | 1.37 %  | 0.48 %             | 0.26 %        | 0.14 %       | 0.13 %       | 2.61 %             |        | 0.17 %       |
| UNITED KINGDOM       | 1.33 % 0.97 % | 1.15 %       | 1.38 %       | 1.02 %  | 0.36 %             | 0.26 %        | 0.16 %       | 0.15 %       | 1.67 %             | %      | 0.16         |
| NEPAL 1.48           | 0.87          | 0.86         | 0.66         | 4.13    | 0.00               | 0.00          | 0.00         | 0.09         | 1.78               |        | 0.10         |

|                           |               | %      | %      | %             | %             | %             | %      | %      | %        | %             |
|---------------------------|---------------|--------|--------|---------------|---------------|---------------|--------|--------|----------|---------------|
| TURKEY                    | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % | 0.03 % | 0.03 %        | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.02 % | % 0.12 % | % 0.09 %      |
| CANADA                    | 0.59 %        | 0.62 % | 0.56 % | 0.60 %        | 0.43 %        | 0.11 %        | 0.07 % | 0.06 % | 0.50 %   | 0.20 % 0.07 % |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES      | 3.02 %        | 2.04 % | 3.54 % | 2.02 % 1.74 % | 0.13 %        | 0.07 %        | 0.08 % | 0.10 % | 0.15 %   | 0.07 %        |
| PHILIPPINES               | 0.07 % 0.06 % | 0.09 % | 0.08 % | 0.09 %        | 0.04 %        | 0.03 %        | 0.03 % | 0.06 % | 0.28 %   | 0.07 %        |
| KAZAKHSTAN 0.08 %         | 0.06 %        | 0.29 % | %      | 0.35          | 0.27 % 0.15 % | 0.10 %        | 0.07 % | 0.07 % | 0.06 %   | 0.06 %        |
| AUSTRALIA 0.27 %          | 0.22 %        | 0.28 % | 0.24 % | 0.28 %        | 0.24 %        | 0.07 %        | 0.03 % | 0.04 % | 0.47 %   | 0.05 %        |
| MALAYSIA                  | 0.96 % 1.03 % | 1.05 % | %      | 0.69 0.61 %   | 0.14 %        | 0.07 %        | 0.05 % | 0.09 % | 0.23 %   | 0.05 %        |
| SOUTH AFRICA 0.20 %       | 0.11 %        | %      | 0.21   | 0.29 % %      | 0.22 0.11 %   | 0.09 %        | 0.03 % | 0.03 % | 0.09 %   | 0.05 %        |
| RUSSIAN FEDERATION 0.09 % | 0.31 %        |        | 1.87 % | 3.43 % %      | 2.30 0.06 %   | 0.05 %        | 0.05 % | 0.06 % | 0.21 %   | 0.04 %        |
| FRANCE                    | 0.35 %        | 0.29 % | 0.33 % | 0.28 % %      | 0.21 0.04 %   | 0.02 %        | 0.02 % | 0.02 % | 0.18 %   | 0.04 %        |
| EGYPT                     | 0.04 %        | 0.03 % | 0.04 % | 0.03 % %      | 0.07 0.04 %   | 0.03 %        | 0.03 % | 0.05 % | 0.09 %   | 0.04 %        |
| INDONESIA                 | 0.10 % %      | 0.17   | 0.26 % | 0.22 % %      | 0.13 0.07 %   | 0.07 %        | 0.03 % | 0.05 % | 0.10 %   | 0.04 %        |
| GERMANY                   | 0.69 %        | 0.73 % | 0.87 % | 0.89 %        | 0.43 %        | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % | 0.02 % | 0.20 %   | 0.03 % 0.03 % |
| NEW ZEALAND %             | 0.05          | 0.05 % | 0.05 % | 0.05 % %      | 0.05 0.02 %   | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % | 0.02 % | 0.10 %   | 0.02 %        |
| CHINA                     | 0.09 % %      | 0.08   | 0.10 % | 0.10 %        | 0.07 % 0.02 % | 0.01 %        | 0.00 % | 0.01 % | 0.12 %   | 0.02 %        |
| NETHERLANDS 0.11 %        | %             | 0.09   | 0.11 % | 0.09 % %      | 0.06 0.01 %   | 0.02 %        | 0.02 % | 0.02 % | 0.10 %   | 0.02 %        |
| ITALY                     | 0.14 % %      | 0.12   | 0.22 % | 0.17 %        | 0.08 %        | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.12 %   | 0.02 % 0.02 % |
| UKRAINE 0.03 %            | 0.09 %        |        | 0.22 % | 0.29 %        | 0.24 %        | 0.02 0.01 %   | 0.01 % | 0.02 % | 0.06 %   | % 0.02 %      |
| IRAN                      | 0.19 0.19 %   |        | 0.22 % | 0.17 %        | 0.12 %        | 0.03 %        | 0.03 % | 0.02 % | 0.04 %   | 0.04 % 0.01 % |
| % NORWAY 0.06 %           | 0.07          | %      | 0.12 % | 0.07 %        | 0.04 %        | 0.01 %        | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.03 %   | 0.02 % 0.01 % |
| SWITZERLAND 0.14 %        | 0.14 %        |        | 0.30 % | 0.31 %        | 0.14 %        | 0.01 %        | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.05 %   | 0.01 % 0.01 % |
| SWEDEN 0.08 %             | 0.09          | %      | 0.11 % | 0.15 %        | 0.06 %        | 0.01 %        | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.03 %   | 0.02 % 0.01 % |
| 0.34                      | 0.41          |        | 0.00   | 0.38          | 0.24          | 0.02 0.02     | 0.00   | 0.01   | 0.34     | 0.01          |
| SINGAPORE                 | % %           |        | %      | %             | %             | % %           | %      | %      | %        | %             |
| BELGIUM                   | 0.06          | 0.02   | 0.03   | 0.03          | 0.03          | 0.01 0.01     | 0.00   | 0.01   | 0.05     | 0.01          |

|                                        | %                                      | %        | %             | %             | %      | %      | %      | %      | %      | %      | %      |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------|---------------|---------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| THAILAND                               | 0.06 % 0.05 %                          | 0.07 %   | 0.06 %        | %             | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.12 % | 0.00 % | 0.05   |
| AUSTRIA                                | 0.10 % 0.13 %                          | 0.21 %   | 0.23 %        | 0.09 %        | 0.00 % | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.04 % | %      | 0.00   |
| IRELAND                                | 0.05 % 0.01 %                          | 0.02 %   | 0.03 %        | 0.03 %        | 0.05 % | 0.03 % | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.07 % |        | 0.00 % |
| DENMARK                                | 0.06 % 0.05 %                          | 0.07 %   | 0.08 %        | 0.04 %        | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.02 % | %      | 0.00   |
| JAPAN                                  | 0.11 % 0.11 %                          | 0.14 %   | 0.13 %        | 0.00 %        | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.01 % | 0.10 % |        | 0.00 % |
| FINLAND 0.02                           | % 0.02 %                               | 0.02 %   | 0.03 %        | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.02 % |        | 0.00 % |
| ISRAEL 0.07 %                          | 0.06 %                                 | 0.03 %   | 0.06 %        | 0.04 %        | 0.07 % | 0.03 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.03 % | %      | 0.00   |
| PORTUGAL 0.05 %                        | 0.04 %                                 |          | 0.05 % %      | 0.06 0.05 %   | 0.00 % | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.12 % |        | 0.00 % |
| SPAIN                                  | 0.05 % 0.09                            | %        | 0.10 % 0.08 % | 0.05 %        | 0.01 % | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.05 % | 0.00 % |        |
| BRAZIL                                 | 0.01 % 0.02 %                          | %        | 0.03 0.02 %   | 0.02 %        | 0.04 % | 0.02 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.02 % | 0.00 % |        |
| MEXICO                                 | 0.01 %                                 | 0.01 %   | 0.01 % %      | 0.02 0.01 %   | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.01 % | %      | 0.00   |
| ARGENTINA 0.01 %                       | %                                      | 0.01     | 0.01 % %      | 0.02 0.02 %   | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.01 % |        | 0.00 % |
| POLAND                                 | 0.02 % 0.03 %                          |          | 0.02 % %      | 0.06 0.03 %   | 0.02 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.02 % | 0.00   | %      |
| KOREA(ROK) 0.06 %                      | 0.06 %                                 |          | 0.00 % %      | 0.06 0.05 %   | 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.07 % |        | 0.00 % |
| TAIWAN(PROVI NCE OF CHINA) 0.07 % 0.00 | TAIWAN(PROVI NCE OF CHINA) 0.07 % 0.00 | %        | 0.02 % %      | 0.02 0.01 %   | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.02 % |        | 0.00 % |
| CZECH                                  | 0.03 % %                               | 0.01     | 0.02 %        | 0.03 % 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % |        | 0.01 % | 0.00 % |
| GREECE                                 | 0.01 %                                 | 0.01 %   | 0.02 %        | 0.01 % 0.01 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.02 % |        | 0.00 % |
| VIETNAM                                | 0.00 %                                 | 0.00 %   | 0.01 % %      | 0.01 0.01 %   | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.01 % |        | 0.00 % |
| BHUTAN                                 | 0.15 %                                 | 0.49 % % | 0.73 %        | 0.44 0.29 %   | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | %      | 0.26   | 0.00 % |
| Others                                 | 6.09 % 19.86 %                         | 1.87 %   | %             | 7.60 9.94 %   | 8.92 % | 8.14 % | 7.38 % | 7.64 % | %      | 6.63   | 8.42 % |

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## ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (e)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1079  ANSWERED  ON  08.02.2021  REGARDING  REVENUE GENERATED FROM MEDICAL TOURISM

DETAILS OF STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF MEDICAL TOURISM TO AUGMENT FOREIGN MEDICAL TOURISTS IN THE COUNTRY

-  In order to provide dedicated institutional framework to take forward the  cause  of  promotion  of  Medical  Tourism,  Wellness  Tourism  and Yoga,  Ayurveda  Tourism  and  any  other  format  of  Indian  system  of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH),  Ministry  has  constituted  a  National  Medical  &  Wellness Tourism Board with the Hon'ble Minister (Tourism) as its Chairman. The  Board  works  as  umbrella  organization that promotes  this segment of tourism in an organized manner.
-  Financial Assistance to Wellness Tourism Service Providers (WTSPs) and Medical Tourism Service Providers (MTSPs) under Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme (maximum Rs.2.50 lakh).
-  Financial Assistance of maximum Rs.10.00 lakh on 50:50 cost sharing basis for organizing workshops/events/meets/seminars having  focus  on  promotion  of  Medical  &  Wellness  Tourism  with  at least 100 participants (50% of which to be foreign passport holders).
-  Financial Assistance of maximum Rs.25.00 lakh on 50:50 cost sharing basis for organizing Medical & Wellness Tourism promotion shows  with  at  least  75  participants  (40%  of  which  to  be  foreign buyers)
-  In  trade  fairs,  promotional  events, roadshows and  seminars.   A  film on Medical Tourism has been produced in association with BBC and is used at various platforms for promotional purposes. Medical tourism has been specifically promoted at various international  platforms  such  as  World  Travel  Mart,  London,  ITB, Berlin.
-  Wellness Tourism is about travelling for primary purpose of achieving, promoting and maintaining maximum health and a sense of  well-being.   Most  of  the  hotels  /  resorts  are  coming  up  with Ayurveda Centres. The leading tour operators have included Ayurveda in their brochures.
-  Yoga / Ayurveda / Wellness is being promoted in the past years in the print, electronic, internet and outdoor medium under the Ministry of Tourism's 'Incredible India Campaign'.
-  The Ministry of Tourism has only the role of a facilitator in terms of marketing this concept and promoting this in the key markets. Medical Tourism  is  regularly  highlighted  for  promotion  as part of the Incredible India Campaign in the print, electronic, online and  outdoor  media  in  India  and  abroad  as  well  as  at  the  various travel trade exhibitions overseas.
-  In order to promote the Medical Tourism in the country, the Ministry of  Tourism  has  also  instituted  a  National  Tourism  Award  for  the category of 'Best Medical Tourism Facility'.
-  In order to promote the Wellness Tourism in the country, the Ministry of  Tourism  has  also  instituted  a  National  Tourism  Award  for  the category of 'Best Wellness Centre'.
-  Medical and medical attendant Visa has been introduced to ease the travel  process  of Medical Tourists.   The  e-Tourist  visa  regime  has also been expanded to include medical visits as well.  Indian Missions/Posts issues Medical Visa (MED) valid for 1 year or period of treatment whichever is less to foreign national visiting India for Medical treatment in reputed/Specialized /Recognized hospitals/treatment centres in India. The treatment should be significant  in  nature,  such  as  neurosurgery,  heart  surgery,  organ transplant, joint replacement, gene therapy, and plastic surgery.
-  Up  to  two Medical Attendant  visas  will  be  issued  for  people  to accompany  the  patient  Attendants/family  members  of  patient,  who are coming to India for Medical treatment, shall be granted Medical Attendant visa (MED X) co-terminus with medical Visa  of the patient.  Attendants  should  be  spouse/ children  or  those  having  blood  relations  with  the  patient.  Not  more than  two  attendants  may  be  allowed. Initial  duration  of  the  visa  is one year or the period of treatment, whichever is less.  Visa will be valid for maximum three entries in a year. Maximum three entries are allowed in one year.
-  Government  of India introduced online e-Tourist Visa for 166 countries. Further, under the liberalization and simplification of Visa regime in India, e-Visa scheme for Tourist, Business and Medical has been implemented w.e.f 01.04.2017.
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