The Hindu Business Line : Kerala targets 1 lakh medical tourists

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Kochi, Jan. 22 Kerala is targeting one lakh medical tourists by 2010 and the Government aims to make the State one among the top five global players in medical tourism as part of its Vision 2010, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the State Tourism Minister, has said.

Addressing media persons here on Monday, the Minister said that there has been an increase of 25 to 30 per cent in medical tourist arrivals and there were about 15,000 arrivals in the State last year. Even small countries such as Thailand was able to attract three lakh medical tourists a year and Singapore targets to achieve one million by 2012, he said.

ROAD SHOWS

According to the Minister, medical tourism is the fastest growing segment worldwide and the State Government has taken special efforts to promote this growing sector.

The Tourism Department and CII together is organising road shows in select focus markets such as the UK, the US, Dubai, Muscat, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Maldives to attract medical tourists to the State.

He said that the Kerala Health Tourism 2006 organised by the CII in partnership with the Tourism Department and the State was the kick-off point for creating awareness and getting the stakeholders together to promote the State as a preferred destination for health tourism.

He pointed out that the KHT 2007 would be held here from March 23 to 26 at Hotel Le Meridien.

To facilitate systematic and planned growth of the medical tourism sector in the State, Mr Balakrishnan said that the Government is planning to come out with a medical tourism policy for the next five years. It had asked the CII to give impetus to the draft policy.

NEW POLICY

As a State, Kerala is leading in the area of medical tourism and it is expected that Kerala will be the first State in India to announce the policy.

"We are planning to announce the policy during the inaugural session of Kerala Health Tourism 2007," he said.

The policy will consider industry status for medical tourism and encouragement to medical tourism like the way we have promoted and supported the tourism sector in the State, he added.

He said that the State Government had also engaged ICRA Advisory Services to prepare a study report on Kerala's potential in medical tourism, prepare milestones, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, international comparisons etc. The report is at the final stage, he said.

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