Medical Tourism News
Mixed predictions for global tourism ’ s future
Predictions point to a recovery but differ on timelines
India goes all out to promote Ayurveda
Tourism ministry recruits officials and business groups to highlight expertise in complementary medicine
ndia ’ s Ministry of Tourism is urging the government and its
I healthcare industry to collaborate in taking Ayurveda to a global clientele .
The ministry has been creating new promotional materials that talk of “ body , mind , and soul ”, for which Ayurveda plays an integral role through its holistic healing and rejuvenation .
It is advising the industry to work together in creating strategic content to be marketed outside India . The ministry is also engaging with other departments in central and state governments , as well as with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry .
Ayurveda is recognised as an essential industry in India and was allowed to continue operating during lockdowns in the country . In response to the pandemic , the ministry is promoting Ayurveda to both domestic and global markets as a means to boost immunity .
India ’ s Ministry of Ayurveda , Yoga and Naturopathy , Unani , Siddha and Homoeopathy has kicked off a scheme under the banner of “ Medical Value Tourism ” to encourage private-sector investment in new greenfield hospitals across India . These hospitals will be accredited by Indian healthcare accreditation authorities to ensure the quality of services and infrastructure provided .
“ There is a new generation in India that has now understood the value of Ayurveda and its healing benefits ,” the tourism ministry said in a statement .
“ For the international market , one idea is for Indian overseas embassies to start issuing tourist and medical visas , with online visas on arrival available to international guests .”
Revenues from global tourism are expected to increase by half this year over 2020 , with the travel industry predicting record revenues from 2023 onwards . By 2025 , revenue growth could hit 23 percent over 2019 levels , some experts predict .
That ’ s according to consumer data analyst Statista , which used World Travel and Tourism Council , WorldData , and OECD figures to show that tourism markets could be more resilient than expected .
Statista also predicts trends that are likely to take off soon in tourism , such as artificial intelligence , personalised services , and marketing with virtual reality .
Despite the upbeat predictions , global tourism still has a long and difficult road ahead after suffering its worst year on record in 2020 , with international arrivals dropping by 74 percent , according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer .
The Asia-Pacific region was the first to suffer the impact of the pandemic and recorded the largest decrease in arrivals . It saw 300 million fewer tourists , equivalent to an 84 percent fall . The Middle East and Africa both recorded a 75 percent decline , while Europe saw a 70 percent decrease in arrivals .
Looking ahead , most UNWTO analysts do not to see a return to pre-pandemic levels happening before 2023 , while 43 percent predict that the industry will make such a recovery and 41 percent expect a return to 2019 levels only in 2024 or later . The UNWTO ’ s extended scenarios for 2021-2024 indicate that it could take two-and-a-half to four years for international tourism to return to 2019 levels .
32 APRIL 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com