INDIA has earmarked health and wellness tourism as niche segments to boost inbound travel, with spa and hospital certification under way.
Speaking to media at the recently concluded The Great Domestic Tourism Bazaar in New Delhi, India’s tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai said: “India has potential for health tourism, (but this sector) is yet to be fully exploited. India has always been known for its rich heritage of wellness traditions and has enormous possibilities to offer in this field.”
To ensure quality standardisation, Sahai stressed that all spas and hospitals in the country would be certified by the National Accreditation Board for Hospital & Healthcare Providers. He also urged inbound operators to leverage India’s strengths in pilgrimage tours, and to add spiritual tourism products to encourage extended stays among wellness tourists.
Mitesh Dani, director, Parul Tours & Travels Mumbai, said: “Wellness tourism has been a major contributor to the increase in inbound (arrivals) in 2011, and we have seen a growth of 20 per cent in the first half of 2012 in this segment.”
India will host the Global Spa & Wellness Summit 2013, which offers an opportunity to showcase Indian wellness products on an international platform.
Sourced: TTG Asia
source: http://www.tourismcambodia.com / Home> News> Trade Fair News / Wednesday, August 29th, 2012
