Medical tourism value in India to touch USD 9 bn by 2020: Govt

NEW DELHI: The government has said that the value of medical tourism in India is likely to reach a whopping USD 9 billion by 2020 as compared to the USD 3 billon in 2015. 

Tourism Minister KJ ALphons today informed the Lok Sabha that India has emerged as a major medical tourism destination over the years. 

Alphons said that according to a Ministry of Commerce report published in 2016, India is among the top six medical value travel destinations of the world which also include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Mexico. 

"It is further informed that as per the report, through adequate focus and effective execution, Indian medical value travel, pegged at 3 billion USD in 2015, can be 9 billion USD opportunity by 2020", the minister said. 

Alphons went on to say that the ministry had recognised medical and wellness promotion tourism as niche tourism product for promotion, organised wellness and medical tourism promotion shows and also produced a film on it.