Lok Sabha Question No. 3469 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Foreign Exchange Earned Through Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Shrikant Eknath Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3469

## ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNED THROUGH MEDICAL TOURISM

3469.DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. HEENA GAVIT:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  tourists  that  have  come  to  India  as  medical tourists  during  the  last  five  years  and  details  thereof,  Statewise;
- (b) the amount of foreign exchange earnings generated by Medical Tourism  during  the  last  five  years  and  the  details  thereof, State-wise;
- (c) the steps being taken, if any, to create awareness and attract more medical tourists to India; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes,  to  create  a  dedicated medical tourism policy and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): The  details  of  Foreign  Tourists  Arrivals  (FTAs)  in  India on Medical purpose during 2016 to 2020 are given below:

## Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTAs) in India on Medical purpose

|   Year |   FTAs on medical purpose (in Lakh) |
|--------|-------------------------------------|
|   2016 |                                4.27 |
|   2017 |                                4.95 |
|   2018 |                                6.41 |
|   2019 |                                6.97 |
|   2020 |                                1.83 |

Source: Bureau of Immigration, Government of India

Further,  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  does  not maintain data on State/UT  wise visits of foreign tourists according to purpose and foreign exchange earnings generated from these visits. However,  the  overall  Foreign  Exchange  Earnings  through  tourism during 2016 to 2020 are given below:

Foreign Exchange Earnings from tourism in India

| Year     |   FEE from tourism (in Rs. Crore) |
|----------|-----------------------------------|
| 2016 # 2 |                            154146 |
| 2017# 2  |                            177874 |
| 2018# 2  |                            194881 |
| 2019# 2  |                            211661 |
| 2020# 2  |                             50136 |

#2 Revised estimates

(c) & (d): In  order  to  create  a  robust  framework  and  synergy amongst  the  Central  Government  Ministries,  State  Governments and Private Sector for promoting India as a Medical and Wellness tourism destination through a dedicated agency to create awareness  and  attract  more  medical  tourists  to  India,  a  draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism has been formulated by Ministry of Tourism. In order to make the document  more  comprehensive,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  invited feedback/  comments/  suggestions  on  the  draft National  Strategy and  Roadmap  from  identified  Central  Ministries,  all  the  State Governments/UT Administrations and industry stakeholders.

Further,  Ministry  of  Tourism has taken several steps to create awareness and attract more medical tourists to India, which are at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3469 ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021 REGARDING  FOREIGN  EXCHANGE  EARNED  THROUGH  MEDICAL TOURISM

The following are the several  steps  taken by Ministry  of  Tourism to create awareness and attract more medical tourists to India:

- a. 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  an umbrella organization that promotes this segment of tourism in an organized manner.
- b. Brochure, CDs  and  other publicity material to  promote Medical  and  health  tourism  have  been  produced  by  the Ministry and the same are widely distributed and circulated for publicity in target markets.
- c. Medical and health tourism have been specifically promoted at various international platforms such as World Travel Mart, London, ITB, Berlin, Arabian Travel Mart etc.
- d. 'Medical  Visa'  has  been  introduced,  which  can  be  given  for specific  purpose  to  foreign  travelers  coming  to  India  for medical treatment. 'EMedical Visa' has also been introduced for 166 countries.
- e. Ministry of Tourism  provides financial assistance under Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme to Medical/Wellness  Tourism  Service  Providers  and  Wellness Centres accredited by NABH for participation in Medical/Tourism Fairs, Medical Conferences, Wellness Conferences, Wellness Fairs and allied Road Shows.

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