'Proper sanitation will boost Indian tourism'

There is a need for a hygienic environment with a well-regulated sanitisation mechanism to boost the Indian tourism industry as it has good prospects even in the face of stiff competition from neighbouring countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

These views were expressed by Renuka Choudhury, minister of state for tourism (independent charge), in her inaugural address at the BEAUWELL INDIA 2OO5 in Chennai today, according to a release. It is touted as India's first business-to-business forum (B2B) on beauty and wellness organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

She further stated that beauty and wellness industry in India needs to be identified, categorised and standardised accordingly to cater to a huge market potential in this sector.

The minister also insisted that India needs to gear up to tap this opportunity through a self-regulatory approach with a backbone of intangible assets the country has achieved through its 5,000 years of cultural evolution.

Prathap C Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals, in his keynote address, said that Indian healthcare industry has all necessary inputs to be the best in the world.

Indian hospitals are well known for cardiac surgery at low cost with better quality treatment in the world with the cost of cardiac surgery being around $4000, as against the cost in the western world which is around $40,000.

The Indian tourism industry will get a boost by offering a world-class health service at low cost and by offering alternative medicine to differentiate India's service from the rest of world, Reddy added.

Claudio Barbesino, president, Cosmexport, Italy, in his address on 'Global Trends in Beauty and Cosmetics', said that the consumers are demanding more and more whereas brand loyalty is decreasing.

Companies are fighting on price to differentiate from each other in the market where consumers are exposed to the same quality everywhere.

Cosmetic industries are following two approaches to cater to the market needs "" technology cosmetics and cultural-based cosmetics.

Barbesino remarked that to satisfy each individual needs and to be competitive in the market, countries like Italy, China and India should follow the cultural approach as traditions and culture are acquired at birth.