The centre on Monday said that while the development and promotion of medical tourism destinations is primarily undertaken by State Governments and Union Territory administrations, the Centre continues to promote India holistically as a global tourism destination, including in the medical and wellness tourism segment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the Ministry of Tourism has not conducted a separate study to assess the current status, challenges or growth potential of medical tourism in the country. The Ministry also does not maintain state-wise or purpose-wise data on foreign tourist arrivals or revenue earned specifically from medical tourism.
However, data from the Bureau of Immigration indicates a steady recovery in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes following the pandemic-induced decline. In 2019, India recorded nearly 6.97 lakh foreign tourists visiting for medical treatment. This number fell sharply in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions but has gradually recovered, reaching over 6.59 lakh in 2023 and 6.44 lakh in 2024. During the January–November period of 2025, more than 4.5 lakh foreign tourists visited India for medical purposes, according to provisional figures.
To boost growth and maintain India’s competitive advantage in medical and wellness tourism, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism, which has been circulated to relevant Central Ministries, State Governments and industry stakeholders.
The Services Export Promotion Council, under the Ministry of Commerce, has also developed a dedicated portal, indiahealthcaretourism.com, which provides information on accredited hospitals, wellness centres, healthcare providers and visa-related details. The Ministry of Tourism has linked this portal on its official websites to improve accessibility for international patients.
To further facilitate medical travel, the Government of India has extended the e-medical visa and e-medical attendant visa facility to foreign nationals seeking treatment in India.
