India recorded 1,31,856 foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes from January to April 2025, accounting for approximately 4.1% of total FTAs during the period, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The data was shared by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Over the past five years, Bangladesh has emerged as the top source country for medical tourists, with 4,82,336 arrivals in 2024, followed by Iraq (32,008), Somalia (11,717), Oman (10,431), and Uzbekistan (8,921). The total FTAs for medical purposes in 2024 stood at 6,44,387, a significant rise from 1,82,945 in 2020, as per the Bureau of Immigration.
The Ministry of Tourism highlighted that the development and promotion of medical tourism are primarily handled by state governments and Union Territory administrations, with the central government complementing these efforts through various schemes and initiatives. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also actively promoting the ‘Heal in India’ campaign, fostering public-private partnerships to enhance the medical tourism ecosystem, which includes hospitals, facilitators, hotels, airlines, and regulatory agencies.
To ease access for international patients, the Government of India has extended e-medical visa and e-medical attendant visa facilities to nationals of 171 countries.
In Gujarat, the state government is promoting medical tourism by registering wellness retreats on the official Tourism Department website, supporting participation in wellness-focused events, organizing familiarization trips for industry stakeholders, and promoting wellness centers through social media platforms. Gujarat is also strengthening its health diplomacy by showcasing its healthcare infrastructure globally, training paramedical staff to improve service quality, and participating in international health and wellness events, exhibitions, and conferences.
