Huge opportunities exist in medical tourism sector: Sharma

There is a need for a separate body to tap immense growth opportunities in the medical tourism sector in the country, the govt said today.
"Medical tourism as a sector will be propagated and promoted in all Indian tourism directorates and other fora. There is a need for a separate body to dedicate efforts to boost medical tourism. No other sector is growing at a rate of 30 per cent," MoS Tourism Mahesh Sharma said today at a CII function.
Sharma said that medical visa on ETA (electronic travel authority) was already being provided in SAARC countries and would soon be extended further.

Describing cleanliness, security and hospitality as the key factors determining tourism, the Minister said that as part of the Swachh Bharat campaign, a huge cleanliness drive would be undertaken at all key tourist destinations, including hospitals.
"Similarly, for security purposes various schemes are being devised including a nationwide 24x7 helpline," he said.