The Indian Government recently announced tourist visa on arrival for citizens of five countries - Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, in an effort to promote tourism. This facility has been found very useful not only by holiday tourists but also by a large number of foreign patients who now find it very convenient to plan a quick visit to leading Indian hospitals for advanced health check up and medical treatment.

“IMTA welcomes Indian Governments new guidelines on “Visa on Arrival” and we have strongly recommended to the government to open up the facility to citizens of a larger number of countries. Most of the IMTA’s member hospitals have reported higher volumes of patient arrivals and also enquiries from potential patients who wish to avail of “Visa on Arrival” facility. ” Says Pradeep Thukral, Executive Director, Indian Medical Travel Association (IMTA).

Medical tourists spend more money and their time of stay is longer than regular tourists and each visiting medical traveller to India spends on an average 5000 US Dollars which is makes this segment a very special target for India’s medical and tourism service providers. The Government of India and its various arms are actively supporting the growth of medical tourism to India. . India’s Ministry of Tourism has achieved phenomenal success in last five years with its much acclaimed “Incredible India “campaign that has multiplied the arrival of foreign tourists to India. Recently the Ministry of Tourism has launched a new Medical Tourism Incredible India campaign that highlights India’s unmatched service offerings both in modern medical treatment as well as wellness promotion.

The volume of foreign patient arrivals at Indian hospitals is growing at a healthy pace of over 40 percent every year and medical tourism is indeed the next billion dollar opportunity after IT outsourcing for India to benefit from its fast expanding private healthcare infrastructure. Indian doctors and professionals are world renowned for their skills and the country has abundance of all the inputs like talented young manpower, local high quality manufacturing base for pharmaceuticals, technology hardware and software that makes the Indian costs for high end surgical procedures so attractive.

About Indian Medical Travel Association.
A non profit body aimed at preparing India for facing the challenges of global competition in Medical Tourism space and actualise the tremendous opportunity for India to become a leading global healthcare destination. IMTA’s membership has a diverse base of India’s leading JCI, NABH accredited hospitals, Indian System of Medicine and Wellness service providers, travel industry, Insurance, Assistance and Medical Tourism facilitation companies.