Lok Sabha Question No. 4136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Heal in India Initiative for Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar, Shri Karan Bhushan Singh, Shri Tatkare Sunil Dattatrey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4136

## ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## HEAL IN INDIA INITIATIVE FOR MEDICAL TOURISM

4136. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY: SHRI KARAN BHUSHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the total number of medical tourists landed in India in 2025;
- (b) the  details  of  the  top  source  countries  accounting  for  medical tourists during the last five years and the current year;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to improve India's rank in global wellness tourism markets;
- (d) the role of 'Heal in India' initiative in capacity building and easing visa norms; and
- (e) whether the Government has collaborated with any private entity so far under the said initiative and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM         (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  to  (e):  Development  and  promotion  of  tourist  destinations  and products,  including  medical  tourism  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the respective  State  Government/Union  Territory  (UT)  Administration.  The Ministry  complements  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  by  developing  and promoting  various  tourism  products  of  the  country,  including  medical tourism through various schemes and initiatives.

To  facilitate  the  visit  of  foreign  nationals  to  come  to  India  for medical  treatment,  the  Government  of  India  has  extended  e-medical visa/e-medical Attendant visa facility.

Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry organizes Sanjeevani, an international healthcare and  wellness  event  which showcases  the  capabilities  of  India  as  a destination for Healing & Wellness. The  total  year-wise  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  for  medical  purpose during last 5 years and the details of the top source countries are given at Annexure.

*******

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.4136  ANSWERED  ON  18.08.2025  REGARDING  HEAL  IN INDIA INITIATIVE FOR MEDICAL TOURISM RAISED BY SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR, SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY AND SHRI KARAN BHUSHAN SINGH

Year-wise foreign tourist arrivals for medical purposes.

| Year                    | FTAs in India   | FTAs for Medical Purposes   |   % Share of Medical Tourists |
|-------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2019                    | 1,09,30,355     | 6,97,453                    |                          6.38 |
| 2020                    | 27,44,766       | 1,82,945                    |                          6.67 |
| 2021                    | 15,27,114       | 3,23,748                    |                         21.2  |
| 2022                    | 64,37,467       | 4,74,798                    |                          7.38 |
| 2023                    | 95,20,928       | 6,59,356                    |                          6.93 |
| 2024                    | 99,51,722       | 6,44,387                    |                          6.48 |
| 2025 (Jan to April) (P) | 32,40,683       | 1,31,856                    |                          4.07 |

(P): Provisional Source: Bureau of Immigration (BOI)

Top Source Countries for Medical Tourism

| S. No.                         | Country                        | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for the Medical purpose   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for the Medical purpose   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for the Medical purpose   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for the Medical purpose   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for the Medical purpose   |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|                                |                                | 2020                                                      | 2021                                                      | 2022                                                      | 2023                                                      | 2024                                                      |
| 1                              | Bangladesh                     | 99,155                                                    | 1,86,633                                                  | 3,26,805                                                  | 4,99,951                                                  | 4,82,336                                                  |
| 2                              | Iraq                           | 16,647                                                    | 15,357                                                    | 30,701                                                    | 28,758                                                    | 32,008                                                    |
| 3                              | Somalia                        | 1,712                                                     | 3,847                                                     | 1,006                                                     | 15,947                                                    | 11,717                                                    |
| 4                              | Oman                           | 4,328                                                     | 7,610                                                     | 11,121                                                    | 13,397                                                    | 10,431                                                    |
| 5                              | Uzbekistan                     | 1,712                                                     | 3,847                                                     | 6,768                                                     | 7,081                                                     | 8,921                                                     |
| Total FTAs for Medical purpose | Total FTAs for Medical purpose | 1,82,945                                                  | 3,23,748                                                  | 4,74,798                                                  | 6,59,356                                                  | 6,44,387                                                  |

Source: Bureau of Immigration *********