INDIA MEDICAL TOURISM-THREATS AND OPPORTUNITES

Medical tourism in simple terms implies reasonably priced, private medical care that works incollaboration with the travel industry. Medical tourism is a therapeutic and healthy exercise for people fromabroad traveling to India for healthcare and surgery. They even end up paying less in India compared towhat they'd pay in their own country for the treatment. India is one of the most favorable tourist destinations in the world. Medical treatment combines withtourism has come into effect, from which the concept of Medical Tourism is derived. India excels in providing quality and cheap health care services to overseas tourists. The field hassuch lucrative potential that it can become a $2.3 billion business by 2012, states a study by Confederationof Indian Industry (CII). In 2004, some 150,000 foreigners visited India for treatment, and the numbers havebeen rising by 15 per cent each year. Medical Tourism in India is expected to bring revenue of over $4 billion by 2018. The object is to capitalize the low cost advantage and to attract medical tourist by providing attractive packages. Indian tourismIndustry should work more in collaboration with the Government department in order to implement theconcept- "AtithidevoBhavo" (a guest is a form of God) as major marketing mantras