India’s Push into Global Medical & Wellness Tourism

Not every traveller boards a plane for adventure or leisure. Some do it seeking comfort, care, and a place to heal, be it physically or emotionally or both. In recent years, India has become that place. Whether it’s a cancer patient flying in for trusted treatment in Chennai or a wellness seeker drawn to the calming energies of Rishikesh, more and more people are choosing India not just to visit, but to recover. 

And now, with the government’s ‘Heal in India’ vision is becoming a national mission. Hospitals are partnering with hotels. Yoga retreats are working alongside tour operators. The travel industry is realising that healing is no longer a side story; it's the next big chapter. India isn’t just offering medical expertise or ancient wellness traditions. It’s offering something far more powerful than that, which is a sense of trust, care, and belonging.

“India must not just be seen as a place to be treated, it must become a destination where the world comes to heal,” said Suman Billa (IAS), Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, during his address in ‘Heal in India’ Initiative at Medical and Wellness Tourism Summit 2025. India’s ambitions towards tourism are getting serious day by day, and it’s coming straight from the health and wellness sector. This revolution is the country’s determination to not just become a place where people are treated, but where they truly come to heal.

As the country looks ahead to 2047, the year marking a century of independence, the government has set an ambitious target of building a tourism economy worth $3 trillion. To achieve that, medical and wellness tourism will no longer sit in the corners now. They are now seen as important pillars, core to India’s tourism growth story over the next two decades.

India’s medical and wellness tourism sector is poised to double in size within five years, and it’s not just about treatment anymore; it’s about trust, healing, and global leadership. Outlining a comprehensive strategy to elevate India's status in the global healthcare and wellness travel ecosystem, Billa called for a united push to turn India into a global wellness and medical tourism hub.

A key highlight of the event was the release of the KPMG knowledge report titled “Heal in India: Catalysing Medical and Wellness Tourism for a Healthier Global Future.” The report laid out a detailed blueprint for enhancing India’s standing in global medical value travel. It advocated for a national mission integrating medical excellence with traditional wellness systems like Ayurveda and Yoga. Key recommendations included the creation of wellness corridors, integrated care ecosystems, dedicated digital platforms, and strong accreditation frameworks. The report also highlighted India's cost advantage, extensive multilingual medical workforce, growing infrastructure in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and increasing demand for post-treatment care and holistic wellness.

Presenting the report, Someswara Koundinya, Director KPMG India (Sports & Tourism Practice) at KPMG India, called it a “call to action” and not just a reflection. “India must lead not just in treating illness, but in promoting long-term wellness. With the right policy support, digital tools, and global outreach, we have the opportunity to become the world’s healing capital,” he said. He highlighted the key aspects of the report and shared the position of India in the global landscape. A major takeaway from the report was the need to position hotels and hospitality partners as enablers of care, not merely service providers. It emphasised the importance of culturally centric services, multilingual support, wellness-focused infrastructure, and seamless digital integration

 Key Statistics and Figures from the report :

• India ranks 10^th in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) out of 46 destinations (2020–21).

• India ranks 7^th in wellness tourism across 140 countries.

• India attracted ~2 million patients from 78 countries for medical tourism (as of 2023).

• India’s medical tourism market was valued at $ 7.4 billion in 2022.

• It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.1 per cent from 2023 to 2030.

• The global medical tourism market is estimated to reach $346.1 billion by 2030.

• Out-of-pocket health expenditure in India dropped from 67.1 per cent in 2014 to 48.2 per cent in 2018.

• India's wellness economy was valued at $134 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $197 billion by 2025.

• India has 620+ AYUSH hospitals, 4000+ AYUSH dispensaries, and 8 lakh+ registered practitioners.

• Wellness tourism is expected to grow at 12 per cent CAGR over 2022–2027 globally.

Healing with Science and Soul

“The country’s medical tourism sector is already worth $7.6 billion and is projected to double in the next five years. Wellness tourism, estimated at $19.4 billion, is growing just as rapidly, rising global interest in preventive health, natural therapies, and spiritual wellbeing. But numbers alone don’t define the opportunity. What makes India unique?” Billa explained.

He emphasised the need to move beyond transactional treatment to a more holistic promise,  “India’s greatest asset lies in the trust we can build. A patient travelling thousands of miles is placing their life in our hands, and that trust is sacred. India is not just a place to be treated. It must become a place where the world comes to heal,” Billa emphasised.

Trust- India’s Greatest Currency

With Indian doctors globally recognised for their skill and hospitals rivalling international standards, India is already a strong contender. But Billa stressed that trust will be the true differentiator. “A person flying thousands of miles for surgery is placing their life in our hands. That trust is sacred. And it can be our greatest asset,” he said. He called for consistent, seamless experiences, from arrival to treatment and departure that build confidence and set India apart.

India has the potential to lead in preventive and wellness-based tourism. As per the KPMG Knowledge report on Wellness tourism, the average wellness tourist stays 14- 21 days, which is significantly longer than medical tourists. Wellness seekers are often repeat visitors, creating long-term economic value. Traditional wellness destinations like Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Goa are key players, but more states need to step in.

To truly become a healing destination, Billa stressed the importance of improving infrastructure, especially beyond metro cities. “We must take excellence from Tier-I cities into Tier-II and key clusters over the next five to ten years.” He also highlighted the need to plug gaps in standardisation and skill development, noting that the experience, from airport arrival to departure, must be smooth and predictable.

“When someone arrives in India for treatment, they shouldn’t have to wonder which hospital to choose, which hotel to book, or how to get there. We must deliver a seamless journey that inspires confidence,” he said.

Clusters, Campaigns and Digital Platforms

To create an ecosystem that supports this growth, Billa proposed the development of 10 medical and wellness tourism clusters by 2027, focused on Tier-2 cities and high-potential regions. He also advocated the creation of a unified Heal in India digital platform, enabling international patients to book hospitals, specialists, accommodation, and transport in one place. “The current journey is broken. We need one map where patients can plan their entire treatment experience, even from a country like Oman or the UAE,” he said.

The KPMG report suggested the launch of a Heal in India platform to bring together hospitals, travel partners, wellness centres, and accommodation providers. The platform should allow pre-booking of treatment, doctor consultation, visa assistance, and feedback collection.

The report additionally identifies India’s major competitive advantages, like high-quality healthcare services at a fraction of global costs, up to 70–80 per cent lower than those in the US and UK. States like Delhi NCR, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka are leading hubs for medical tourism, while wellness destinations such as Kerala’s backwaters, Rishikesh, Goa, Rajasthan, and the Himalayas are witnessing a surge in interest for alternative healing.

He also advocated a strong digital-first marketing strategy, including patient testimonials and active collaboration with Indian embassies abroad. “We may offer world-class care, but unless we reach the doctors abroad who make referrals, we’re missing the mark,” he explained.

To encourage this, the Ministry is pushing for performance-linked incentives. If a state sets up an effective wellness tourism strategy, complete with campaigns, infrastructure, and provider networks, it should receive policy and financial support. The same goes for private hospitals and wellness centres that successfully bring in international patients and contribute to foreign exchange growth.

Challenges Identified

The KPMG report on medical and wellness tourism outlines several critical roadblocks that must be addressed if India is to position itself as a truly global healing destination. While the country offers a compelling mix of affordability, expertise, and holistic care, the supporting ecosystem still lacks the cohesion and consistency needed to meet international expectations.

Among the key challenges identified are the lack of standardised protocols and benchmarking across healthcare and wellness service providers, leading to inconsistencies in patient experience. There is also no centralised digital platform to facilitate seamless medical tourism, from choosing hospitals to booking treatment and coordinating travel. Delays in visa approvals, along with the absence of structured post-treatment follow-up systems, further hinder patient confidence. Additionally, issues around insurance portability for international patients create financial uncertainties. Most critically, the report points to fragmented coordination among the ministries of tourism, health, and home affairs, which continues to slow progress in this high-potential sector.

The road ahead isn’t just about expanding an industry; it’s about building a global movement. One where India becomes synonymous with healing, not just with advanced science, but with soul. Because for many, the decision to come here isn’t merely about saving money or finding the right surgeon. It’s about finding a place they can trust, a country where their healing is respected, cared for, and held with dignity.