Lok Sabha Question No. 1164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1164 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## MEDICAL TOURISM

## 1164. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV: DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI: MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the medical tourism sector in India is expected to grow to  USD  13  billion  by  2022  and  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to promote Medical Value Travel in India;
- (b) the steps taken for training and capacity building of the healthcare workforce to cater to international patients and the details  of  other  initiatives  to  promote  medical  tourism  in  the country;
- (c) whether there exist any policies for the regulation of the private medical  sector  with  respect  to  medical  tourism  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  financial  assistance  granted  to  the  Wellness Tourist Service Providers and the Medical Tourist Service Providers under the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme during the last four years; and
- (e) whether any COVID-19 centric measures have been taken for the promotion of medical and wellness tourism and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) to (d): Recognising medical value travel and wellness tourism as important  sectors  having  the  potential  of  accelerating  the  country's

development, Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to promote India  as  a  Medical  and  Wellness  tourism  destination,  which  are  as follows:-

- (i) 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, Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism. The strategy document focuses on the following key pillars:
- (a) Develop a brand for India as a wellness destination
- (b)
- Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism
- (c) Enable  digitalization  by  setting  up  Online  Medical  Value Travel (MVT) Portal
- (d)
- Enhancement of accessibility for Medical Value Travel
- (e)
- Promoting Wellness Tourism
- (f) Governance and Institutional Framework
- (ii) In  order  to  provide  dedicated  institutional  framework  to  take forward  the  cause  of  promotion  of  Medical  Tourism,  Ministry  of Tourism  has  constituted  a  National  Medical  and  Wellness  Tourism Board with the Hon'ble Minister (Tourism) as its Chairman.
- (iii) As  part  of  its  on-going  activities,  Ministry  of  Tourism,  releases global print, electronic and online media campaigns in important and potential markets overseas, under the 'Incredible India' brand-line, to promote  various  tourism  destinations  and  products  of  the  country. Digital  promotions  are  also  regularly  undertaken  through  the  Social Media  accounts  of  the  Ministry  on  different  themes  including  the
- theme of Medical Tourism.
- (iv) 'Medical  Visa'  has  been  introduced,  which  can  be  given  for specific  purpose  to  foreign  travellers  coming  to  India  for  medical treatment. To promote Medical Tourism in the country, Government of India  is  extending  e-medical  visa  facility  to  the  nationals  of  156 countries.

(v) Ministry  of  Tourism  provides  financial  Assistance  under  Market Development Assistance Scheme to Medical Tourism Service Providers  accredited  by  NABH  for  participation  in  Medical/  Tourism Fairs, Medical Conferences, Wellness Conferences, Wellness Fairs and allied  Road  Shows.  Financial  assistance  to  the  tune  of  Rs.17,70,499 have been released to the Wellness Tourist Service Providers and the Medical  Tourist  Service  Providers  under  the  Marketing  Development Assistance Scheme during the last four financial years. (e):   In order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the Government has announced  various  measures  for  revival  of  tourism  sector  in  the country, which include medical and wellness tourism.  The details are given at Annexure.

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- v.

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1164  ANSWERED  ON  25.07.2022  REGARDING  MEDICAL TOURISM.

The  following  are  the  various  fiscal  relief  measures  announced  by  the Government for redeveloping post-covid tourism sector of the country:

- i. The  Government  announced  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  Package  vide which Rs.3.00 lakh crore collateral free automatic loan was made available  for  MSMEs.  The  loan  will  have  4-  year  tenure  and  12month moratorium.
- ii. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat package, PF contribution of both employer  and  employee  was  reduced  to  10%  each  from  existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for three months
- iii. Return  filing  deferred  for  three  months  with  no  penal  interest  for companies up to Rs.5.00 Crore, rest @ 9% penal interest.
- iv. The  Government  waived  off  PF  contribution  for  three  months  for organisations with less than 100 pax and 90% of their employees
5. earn below Rs.15000.
6. Deferment of TCS up to October 2020.
- vi. The  Central  government  also  gave  relief  from  various  regulatory compliances under Income Tax Act, companies Act and GST Act for varying  period  in  the  wake  of  COVID-19  crisis  to  ensure  business continuity and survival.
- vii. The Government announced the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 3.0 on 31.3.2021 to support eligible Micro, Small and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSMEs)  and  business  enterprises  in meeting  their  operational  liabilities  and  restarting  their  business. The scope of the scheme  was enlarged to cover business enterprises in Hospitality, Travel & Tourism and Leisure & Sporting sectors. Provision of additional corpus of Rs.50,000 crores has also been made for hospitality sector. The validity of ECLGS (ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0 & ECLGS 3.0) has been extended till 31.03.2023 or till guarantees for an amount of Rs.5.00 lakh crores are issued.
- viii. Ministry  of  Finance  has  given  concurrence  to  release  Service Exports  from  India  Scheme  (SEIS)  scrips  on  16.06.2021.  Earlier,
10. several Industry stakeholders had flagged appeals to the Government to release SEIS Scrips for 2019-20 and DGFT had put a detailed  proposal  for  the  allocation  for  SEIS  for  exports  made during 2019-20. Taking all circumstances into account, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has given concurrence  to  the  proposal  of  Department  of  Commerce  for continuation  of  SEIS  for  2019-20  with  a  financial  allocation  of Rs.2061  crore  subject  to  the  condition  that  the  amount  will  be provided  through  Expenditure  Budget  following  the  procedure  of providing a New Minor Head.
- ix. On 28 th  June 2021, the Government announced a stimulus package to boost diverse sectors of economy affected by COVID-19 pandemic and provide impetus for growth and employment measures. The package comprises a total of 17 measures in three broad categories, which included 'Economic relief from Pandemic, with  special  focus  on  health  and  reviving  travel  and  tourism sectors' and 'Impetus for Growth and employment'.
- x. Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  'Loan  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Covid Affected  Tourism  Service  Sector  (LGSCATSS)',  which  aims  at extending  collateral  free  loan  to  the  distressed  tourism  sector  to help  them  discharge  their  liabilities  and  restart  their  business affected due to Covid-19 pandemic. Under this scheme, collateral free Loan upto Rs.10.00 lakh each may be availed by MoT approved Tour operator/Travel Agents/Tourist Transport Operators and uptoRs.1.00 lakh each may be availed by RLGs/IITGs approved by MoT and Tourist Guides approved by State Government/ UT Administration. The scheme is already operational through  18  Scheduled  Commercial  Banks. Validity  of  the  scheme has been extended by one more year i.e. till 31 st  March, 2023 or till the guarantee of Rs.250.00 crore are issued under the scheme.
- xi. With a view to prepare for a post-COVID 19 revival, the Ministry has formulated  and  issued  detailed  operational  guidelines  for  Covid safety  and  hygiene  for  hotels,  restaurants,  B&Bs/Homestays  and Tourism  Service  Providers  on  08.06.2020 to facilitate  smooth resumption of business.
- xii. An initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) has been developed for effective implementation of Guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to COVID-
15. 19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- xiii. Validity of approval or certification of hotels and other accommodation units whose project approval/re-approval and classification/re-classification  have  expired/were  likely  to  expire was extended up to 31 st  March 2022
- xiv. With an aim to incentivize stakeholders in the Tourism industry, the Guidelines  for  the  scheme  of  Market  Development  Assistance (MDA)  for providing financial support  to stakeholders  for the promotion of Domestic Tourism have been modified to enhance the scope and reach of the scheme, so as to provide maximum benefits to  the  stakeholders.  Additional  promotional  activities  have  been incorporated including online promotions and the extent of financial assistance permissible has been enhanced. The Guidelines of the Marketing Development Assistance Programme under the Overseas Promotion and Publicity Scheme has been modified to enhance the scope and reach of the scheme, so as to provide maximum benefits to the stakeholders in the tourism industry.
- xv. For the purpose of restarting inbound tourism and attracting foreign tourists  in  the  country,  Government  of  India  extended  first  5  lakh visas to the foreign tourists from potential tourism markets, free of cost. The benefit of free of charge visa will be available only once per tourist during the issuance of the first 5 lakh tourist visas.
- xvi. Owning to the situation which arose out of COVID-19 pandemic, Ministry  of  Tourism  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of Health & Family Welfare issues guidelines/directions to the Tourism Stakeholders, Hotels and Restaurants to facilitate smooth resumption of business.
- xvii. Ministry of Home  Affairs restored e-Tourist Visa for foreign nationals of 156 countries w.e.f. 15 th  March, 2022. Also, after having recognized  the  increased  vaccination  coverage  across  the  globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the Government of India resumed scheduled  commercial  international  passenger  services to/from India w.e.f. 27 th  March, 2022.

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