Lok Sabha Question No. 1622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Promotion of Medical Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1622

## ANSWERED ON 31.07.2023

## PROMOTION OF MEDICAL TOURISM

## †1622 . SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is trying to promote medical tourism in the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  foreign  medical  tourists  who  have  visited  the country during the last five years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)  to  (b):  Promotion  and  development  of  Tourism,  including  Medical Tourism,  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments/  UT Administrations.

In order to boost Medical Tourism in the country, Ministry of Tourism has formulated  a  National  Strategy  and  Roadmap  for  Medical  and  Wellness Tourism. The Strategy has identified the following key pillars:

- i.
- Develop a brand for India as a wellness destination
- ii. Strengthen the ecosystem for medical and wellness tourism
- iii. Enable digitalization by setting up Online Medical Value Travel (MVT) Portal
- iv.
- Enhancement of accessibility for Medical Value Travel
- v. Promoting Wellness Tourism
- vi. Governance and Institutional Framework

However, 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.

The Government of India liberalized the e-Tourist Visa Scheme pursuant to the cabinet approval on 30.11.2016 and the e-Tourist Visa (eTV) scheme was renamed to e-visa Scheme and, at present, it has e-medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visa as sub-categories of e-visa.

In the case of e-Medical Visa and for e-Medical Attendant Visa, triple entry is permitted and extension may be granted up to 6 months on case to case basis  on  merits  of  each  case  by  the  Foreigners  Regional  Registration Officers  (FRRO)/Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned. Medical Attendant  Visa  was  co-terminus  with  the  validity  of  the  principal  e  visa holder.

Further, Union Ministry of Health is coordinating with other Ministries and stakeholders viz. Hospitals, Medical  Value Travel (MVT)  facilitators, Insurance Companies, NABH etc. to promote medical value travel in the country.

## (c): Details  of  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  for  medical  purpose  during  year 2017 to 2021 are given below:

|   Year |   FTA for Medical Purpose (in lakhs) |
|--------|--------------------------------------|
|   2017 |                                 4.95 |
|   2018 |                                 6.44 |
|   2019 |                                 6.97 |
|   2020 |                                 1.83 |
|   2021 |                                 3.04 |

Source: Bureau of Immigration

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