Page 74 - Connect 2024-25

Wellness and Medical

Heritage Tourism in India

Mohanish Kharkar, PGDM I

Wellness and medical heritage tourism refers to travel
that combines the pursuit of health and well-being with
the exploration of traditional and culturally significant
medical practices.
• Wellness tourism is focused on activities that promote
overall well-being, such as yoga, meditation, spa
treatments, and other holistic therapies. Travelers seek
to rejuvenate physically, mentally, and spiritually, often
in serene and natural settings.
• Medical heritage tourism involves visiting destinations they want to prevent them by leading a
known for their historical and cultural medical practices. balanced lifestyle. Wellness retreats, where
In India, this includes exploring ancient systems like people can practice yoga, and meditation,
Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Unani, which have been and enjoy Ayurvedic treatments, are becoming
practiced for centuries and are deeply rooted in the popular travel destinations. This trend is leading
country’s cultural heritage. to the rapid growth of the wellness industry, with
Together, these forms of tourism offer travelers a unique more people choosing alternative medicine and
blend of personal health enhancement and cultural holistic practices for long-term health and well-being.
immersion, allowing them to experience traditional India is one of the top 6 destinations in the World not
healing practices while benefiting from their therapeutic for the Taj Mahal, but for Hip Replacement. If you walk
effects. into any of the hospitals in Gurgaon, even before you
India holds a profound historical and cultural significance notice the African and Arab faces, you will start spotting
in the field of traditional medicine and wellness practices. sign boards in Greek and Persian for long stay and
As the birthplace of Ayurveda and Yoga, India’s ancient medicines plastered all around... along with an IVF clinic
wisdom in holistic healing has been passed down or two in every lane in NCR. Approx 2 million people
through millennia. Ayurveda, dating back over 3,000 visit India every year from 78 countries to get medical
years, offers natural remedies and lifestyle practices that treatment, including eye surgery, hip replacement, heart
promote balance and health, while Yoga, originating bypass procedure, IVF, and bone marrow transplant.
in ancient India, combines physical postures, breathing For a bunch of these surgeries, the costs in India are
exercises, and meditation to achieve mental and just ~10% of that in the US and UK. Further, a lot of
physical well-being. These practices, deeply intertwined Asian and African countries do not have the number of
with Indian culture, continue to influence global health doctors as well as the infrastructure to carry out these
and wellness trends today. procedures.
There is a growing global interest in holistic health, Chennai leads the way in attracting medical tourists,
alternative medicine, and wellness retreats. Many with over 40% of visitors heading there for surgeries,
people are now looking for natural ways to stay healthy followed by cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Kochi. The
and manage stress. Instead of just treating illnesses, medical tourism industry in India is currently valued
at over USD 4 billion and is projected to reach USD 9

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