The Minister of State for Tourism Mr Sultan Ahmed has said that the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) is making efforts for augmentation of accommodation for the Commonwealth Games 2010 from various segments of accommodation including the “Incredible India Bed & Breakfast/ Homestay Scheme” (IIB&B). Accordingly, MOT has requested the State Governments of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to promote the IIB&B Scheme to provide additional accommodation for the Games.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha today he said, in order to promote and have a uniform scheme for Bed and Breakfast establishments all over the country, the Ministry of Tourism had simplified the IIB&B Scheme and has requested all the State/Union Territory Administration for implementation of the same.
Despite the economic slowdown and safety concerns arising from the Mumbai terrorist attacks which resulted into the overall decline in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) to India at 5.16 million in 2009 from 5.36 million in 2008, the medical tourism market in the country is expected to reach Rs 44 billion mark with India enjoying a 25 per cent share in inbound medical tourism in Asia by 2012.
As per the FICCI-Evalueserve study the number of medical tourists in India is expected to reach one million by 2012, with country’s share in the global medical tourism industry reaching 2.4 percent.
The factors which continue to propel growth in the medical tourism segment are low-cost and vast range of healthcare facilities and availability of traditional therapies in the country.
It says that all medical procedures including hospitalisation and recovery costs are relatively low in India as compared to Europe and America. For example a heart bypass surgery costs 6,000 dollars in India, whereas the same costs up to 19,700 dollars in the US.
Moreover, patients covered by medical insurance in regions such as Europe and America have to wait a long time before they can undergo treatment in their country as compared to India.
Furthermore, state governments encourage international tourists by leveraging the traditional wellness systems of India. Various healthcare traditions practised in the country include Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, homeopathy, naturopathy and yoga.
Meanwhile, foreigners for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment is increasing too with various specialty hospitals coming up across the country. Today India has dozens of cancer hospitals which offer mesothelioma peritoneal treatment amongst other forms of cancer.
Apart from patients coming to India for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment, 450,000 inbound patients were treated in India in 2007.
Although there are no exact figure on the number of patients who visit the country for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment, several unofficial sources say that the numbers were increasing and is also like to see more in the coming years.
Singapore and Malaysia are the countries competing with India in this segment, the study said.
The number of patient arrivals from the US, the UK and Europe has increased in India, apart from the usual inbound patients from neighbouring countries and West Asia.
However, the current market for Indian medical tourism is predominantly limited to patients from the West Asia and South Asian economies but there is an immense potential to cater to African patients as well.
It is estimated that Afro-Asians spend up to 20 billion dollars per annum on healthcare outside their countries.
The West Asia region is an important market for India’s medical tourism industry.
Though the West is the traditional medical tourism destination for citizens in the West Asia, the trend saw change after the 2001 terror attacks in the US.
Moreover, campaigns such as Incredible India have changed the perceptions towards the country and helped in promoting it as a cost effective and reliable medical tourism destination.
Though, the marketing of medical value tourism is a relatively new concept in the country, India already has world-class hospitals and treatment centres. In 2009, there were over 3,000 hospitals and 7,26,000 registered practitioners in the country.
The study points out that Wellness tourism a sub-set of medical tourism, comprises Ayurveda treatment, spa therapy, yoga and meditation. A niche segment, it draws high-end inbound tourists.
Ayurveda draws medical tourists from countries like the US, Canada, South America, the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands and even countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Japan.
Visitors can choose between Ayurveda treatments or a combined package of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation.
Kerala is the most popular wellness destination in India, but other states are also emerging in this segment.
There is a huge demand for wellness treatments, especially Ayurvedic and herbal Ayurveda, as the effects are long term and the treatments are safe. Panchakarma, detoxification, rejuvenation, stress management and weight loss programmes are most popular among inbound tourists.
Meanwhile, many people are restoring to Ayurveda treatments for cancer including for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment. According to ayurvedic thought, having the three doshas out of sync might be a cause of cancer. One possible explanation for the rise in cancer diagnoses in modern times can be traced to the increased use of chemicals and other synthetic materials in our diets.
These chemicals prevent us from obtaining the natural minerals our bodies need in order to function correctly. Also, anxiety and stress lead to increased toxins in the body, which then puts us at higher risk for cancer. Because there are so many different types of cancer, like skin cancer, mesothelioma peritoneal, etc., this makes determining the causes and treatments that much more difficult for ayurvedic practitioners.
Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Kerala lead the list of medical tourism destinations for medical tourism in India, the study said.
Here are some of the cancer hospitals in India:
1. AMRI Apollo Hospital
2. Amala Cancer Hospital & Research Centre
3. Bangalore Institute of Oncology (BIO)
4. Cancer Centre Welfare Home And Research Centre
5. Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
6. Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital
7. Kamayani Hospital
8. Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology
9. MNJ Institute Of Oncology & Regional Cancer Center
10. P.N. Memorial Neuro Centre and Research Institute Limited
11. Prankur Hospital And Cancer Research Center
12. Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre
13. Shri Ram Krishna Cancer Hospital
14. Tata Memorial Hospital
15. The Gujarat Cancer Society
16. The Kailash Cancer Hospital and Research Center (KCHRC)
17. VS Hospital
18. Vasantha Memorial Trust
19. Vydehi Institute of Oncology
20. vedic cancer clinic
Most tourists forget that insurance is an important requirement while visiting any country. Insurance for traveling in India is a must and as important as traveling to any other country. With various cheap life insurance policies, one can get himself and his family covered easily. One can always claim insurance in case of an emergency. It relieves the tension of financial crunch during the time of an emergency.
However one should be very careful before choosing a insurance. While cheap life insurance policies are offered by many companies, getting the best and cheap life insurance in India can be a Herculean task.
So when you plan a trip to India check your travel insurance papers if they offer medical coverage in case of an untoward incident in a foreign land.
Most hospitals in India do not treat foreign nationals if they do not have proper medical insurance.
Affordability is a major concern. Though most medical help in India is affordable, it depends on the intensity of the emergency as to how much treatment is needed. In all good and reputed hospitals, it may reach a high amount. All the more important to get a cheap life insurance coverage for the entire family.
It also acts as an additional security in case of flight cancellation, damaged or lost baggage, illness, etc.
To get a travel insurance policy or a cheap life insurance one needs to take the following into account:
1. Age of the traveler or visitor
2. Age of the traveler’s spouse if coverage for spouse is required
3. Number & ages of dependents under 18 requiring coverage (Child less than 18 years and accompanied by a parent or guardian.)
4. Coverage limit for medical expenses (Maximum that the plan will cover)
5. Deductible amount (The initial amount that you are responsible for before the insurance pays for medical expense.)
6. Dates for coverage
Today in India most insurance companies offer travel insurance or very cheap life insurance coverage online to citizens of India and travelers to India. Get a quote now and purchase travel medical and evacuation coverage online via a secure form. The travel insurance plans are great for Indian nationals immigrating to the USA, Canada, Europe and beyond. In fact, if you are traveling abroad for pleasure or business or if you have employees working abroad, maintaining multiple countries of residence or seeking private health care alternatives, these insurance companies can provide you with very cheap life insurance policies which are short-term or long-term international health insurance with a full range of benefits suited for individual and family coverage.
So this time you are coming to India or if you are travelling abroad don’t forget to get yourself and your family covered with Health Insurance and travel medical insurance coverage. A cheap life insurance policy can do away with many worries.
Kerala is exploring the markets of Punjab and Chandigarh to woo tourists to ‘God’s Own Country’.
“Chandigarh and Punjab are unexplored markets. This is one of the most potential region where many rich people reside who really love to spend money and to travel places. To capitalise on this fact, we are significantly focusing on this area,” Kerala tourism department deputy director Suresh Kumar said.
“We already have an established market base in big cities like Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, so now we can easily divert our attention towards Punjab and Chandigarh. Our idea is to offer tourists best tour plans at economical rates.”
Kumar, along with 32 travel agents from Kerala, came to this city to promote tourism prospects of Kerala and to establish links with local travel agents in Chandigarh.
As per official records, 5.98 lakh foreign tourists and 76.91 lakh domestic tourists visited Kerala in 2009.
Kumar said they are expecting 15 percent increase in both domestic and foreign tourists this year.
“Tourism business is booming in Kerala. This tour is very important for us as a huge chunk of tourists are coming from Chandigarh, Punjab and other north Indian states,” A.V.R. Srinivasan, general manager of Siena Village, a resort in Munnar, Kerala added.
The Vice President of India H.E. Mohammad Hamid Ansari today inaugurated the internationally acclaimed annual Surajkund Crafts Mela at Surajkund near New Delhi.
The Governor of Haryana, Jagannath Pahadia, Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Union Minister for Tourism, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, with several other dignitaries, were also present on the occasion.
The 15-Day Mela has participating craftsmen with exquisite talents not only from the length and breadth of the Country, but even from countries like Tajikistan, Thailand and Egypt besides the neighbouring SAARC Nations. State of Rajasthan is the theme State this time.
One of the main objectives of this Mela is to project the sensitivity of the rich Indian art, culture, music and folk art under one single banner and at one single venue for the benefit of its visitors besides providing the young generation an opportunity to have a first hand feel of the extraordinary variety of the tradition and rural ambience that happens to be the hallmark of our country.
It would be a bonanza for the foreign and domestic tourists in educating themselves about the diversity of Indian traditions and culture besides enjoying the vibrant ambiance created typically to represent the entire ethos of rural India in miniature. The Mela also offers the participating craftsmen a direct opportunity and exposure to market their products to the end users.
Organized primarily under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Tourism, the Mela is a collective and concerted effort of agencies like Development Commissioners of Handicrafts, Handlooms and Union Ministries of Culture and External Affairs, Haryana Tourism and the Tourism Department of the theme State as they jointly conduct and coordinate the arrangements of the Mela.
The best amongst the craftsmen and folk artists converge from across the country along with their products and skills populating this 15-day long jamboree of Indian traditional art, culture and tradition. The Mela happens to be one amongst the most important and popular event in the annual national calendar organised in and around Delhi. The number of visitors that stood at over 7 lakhs last year is expected to increase substantially this time.
This year a high level team of Sri Lanka consisting of 25 persons is visiting Surajkund Crafts Mela to study the aspects of its conduct in totality with a view to replicate it.
More than 400 craftsmen sponsored by Development Commissioners Handicrafts and Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Rajasthan Government and other organisations of international repute have started reaching the venue to setup their exhibition cum sale counters within the Mela area.
