India Medical Tourism Market

India Tourism Market Outlook (2022-2032)

[324 Pages Report] The Indian medical tourism industry is estimated to be valued at US$ 7,417 Mn in 2022 and it is projected to surpass US$ 42,237.47 Mn by 2032. According to the analysis, demand is expected to grow at a healthy 19% CAGR during 2022-2032. Indian medical tourism accounts for approximately 6.5% of the global medical tourism market, due to the:

• The rise of inbound medical travel drives the growth of the medical tourism market in India. Continuous advancements in healthcare have enabled improved healthcare delivery through the use of medical devices, wearables, surgical procedures, and linked technology.
• Patients may arrange appointments, contact doctors, and receive great treatment from anywhere in the globe thanks to telemedicine, telehealth, and other technology.
• According to the Medical and Health Tourism Congress (MHTC), medical care in Asian countries is significantly less expensive than private institutions in wealthy countries such as the United States.
• According to the Medical Tourism Index, India is the tenth most popular medical tourism destination in the world. Furthermore, bypass surgery in India costs roughly USD 10,000 as opposed to USD 113,000 in the United States.

Comparison of India Medical Tourism Industry with the Global Medical Tourism Market

The India medical tourism market is expected to develop at a fast speed throughout the forecast period. The key element driving market expansion is the high cost of health care in other nations. Furthermore, the business is being driven by increased demand for non-covered operations such as gender reassignment surgery, reproductive therapy, dental reconstruction, and cosmetic surgery.

A high-quality therapy can be obtained at a lesser cost in developing nations such as India and Malaysia than in industrialized ones. Although treatment prices are cheap in underdeveloped nations, the quality of the process is not affected due to the availability of resources at lower rates. This causes an inflow of individuals to seek healthcare services in this country. Due to the country's expanding medical facilities, the India medical tourism market is likely to grow at a rapid pace.

The Middle East and Africa are well-known medical tourism destinations for aesthetic and rejuvenation services. Popular tourist destinations include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Turkey. For example, according to the Oxford Business Group, medical tourist arrivals in Dubai increased by 4% in 2019. Lower-cost cosmetic operations are the key motivation for tourists to pick Middle Eastern locations, resulting in market revenue growth.

Competition Analysis of India Medical Tourism Market

To maintain competitiveness among countries such as Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and Dubai, quality and other aspects of healthcare services offered must stay preserved, which can only be achieved via the application of tight rules. The medical expertise of India has earned an international reputation, making it one of the most popular medical tourism destinations, with key cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

According to a survey, Maharashtra received 27% of all medical tourists who arrived in India in November, Chennai received around 15%, and Kerala received roughly 5-7%. The SAARC area, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa are some of the major sources of revenue for India medical tourism market. Bangladesh accounts for more than half of all medical tourists to India. On August 30, 2019, the Union Home Ministry declared that foreigners visiting India can receive treatment, save for organ transplants, anywhere in the nation without acquiring a medical visa.

The government has eliminated the requirement that visitors from Gulf nations wait two months between visits, which is expected to increase the India medical tourism market. The majority of people in India speak English, which is the country's official language. Medical professionals also virtually uniformly speak English. A handful of hospitals in Noida have employed linguists to assist make patients from the Balkans and Africa more at ease while also facilitating their medical care.

Sneha Verghese

Principal Consultant

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2017-2021 India Medical Tourism Market Outlook Compared to 2022-2032 Forecast

Medical Tourism in India is expected to rise exponentially during the forecast years. A variety of factors ranging from government schemes to the cost of treatments help in the growth of India medical tourism market share.

The high cost of surgeries and major medical procedures in developed countries has made the people seeking treatments start thinking of alternative options in developing nations. This has provided lucrative opportunities in the Indian medical tourism market and attracted more tourists to their services.

How Is the India Medical Tourism Market Being Supported by Rapid Infrastructure Growth?

The majority of medical tourists visiting India visit the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The cities with the most medical tourists in India are Gurgaon and Chennai, respectively, which are referred to as the "medical tourism hub of India" and the "healthcare capital of India," respectively.

All of this is made possible by the rapidly expanding infrastructure found in these cities. These elements make the nation a reliable choice for patients' visits, improving the India medical tourism market outlook.

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What Factors are Proliferating the India Medical Tourism Market Growth?

The increasing number of hospitals and centers that are accredited internationally make India a very promising destination for medical tourism. The country also boasts some of the top surgeons from across Asia, attracting patients from across the globe, and opens profitable opportunities in the India medical tourism market.

The wide majority of the population being well-versed in English also lowers the chances of facing a language barrier during the stay.

The primary drivers of the medical tourism market expansion are accessibility and affordability of high-quality healthcare services, as well as support from local governments and tourism bureaus.

Additionally, the availability of cutting-edge medical technology in medical tourism hotspots around the globe is anticipated to fuel the India medical tourism market expansion.

Country Insight

How Is The Indian Government Supporting The Growth Of The Medical Tourism Market?

“Government schemes have positively affected the medical tourism industry in India”

As per FMI, the India medical tourism market is expected to have a significant CAGR of 19% over the forecast period. The government of India has developed a number of programs and facilities to support the development of the medical tourism industry in the nation, and are setting up new India medical tourism market trends.

Streamlining the medical visa process by making it easily available under the e-visa section. Providing visa-on-arrival for tourists from certain countries has also facilitated the growth of India medical tourism market share.

What Makes Certain Indian Cities the Prominent Spots for Medical Tourism?

"Low-cost medical care combined with high-quality accommodations make certain cities the leading hub for medical tourism."

Urban cities like Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Gurgaon, Bangalore, and Chennai are some of the major hubs for medical tourists visiting India. The availability of the latest and most advanced medical machinery and facilities in these cities also drives the India medical tourism market size.

The high quality of stay combined with the low cost of travel and treatments also make these hubs a very attractive option for people seeking treatments, encouraging the India medical tourism market.

Category-wise Insights

Which Treatment Type Is The Most Sought-After In India Medical Tourism Market?

“Presence of top surgeons and pioneering institutes in the field of cardiology, make India a popular hub for cardiovascular treatment.”

Cardiovascular treatment in India has been one of the most sought-after treatments among the people visiting India for medical reasons. The presence of top cardiologists in India, along with the advanced health infrastructure present in some of the major centers with international accreditation, make it a hub for cardiovascular treatments.

Major travel firms offer the services of the best hospitals and doctors across India for cardiovascular diseases and issues.

Hospitals like the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, which is one of the major cardiovascular centers in Asia and a pioneer in the field of cardiology is also present in India. All these factors are contributing to the effective growth of the India medical tourism market share.

Why are Wellness Services Popular in India Medical Tourism Market?

“Spiritual and historical factors make India a popular destination for wellness services”

Many people have traveled to India in quest of alternative medicine, making wellness services quite well-liked there. For medical tourists seeking alternative treatments, services like yoga, massages, and meditation are readily available in India.

The name "Yoga Capital of the World" is often used to refer to Rishikesh, a city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The "Ministry of Ayush" in India is perhaps the only nation in the world having a separate department for complementary therapies, including homeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, yoga, and other wellness practices.

Due to all these factors, wellness services are quite well-liked in India, which promotes the India medical tourism market statistics.

What Tour Type is Widely Availed by the Medical Tourists in India?

“Independent traveling is getting popular due to increasing ease of availing facilities.”

The low cost of the therapy and stay is the primary factor driving people to choose medical services in India, which in turn promotes medical tourism. Due to the high cost of travel, most people choose to travel solo, elevating the independent traveling segment in the India medical tourism market.

The country's growing technical improvements have made it simpler to make travel plans and access services immediately. Patients now find it simpler to travel independently owing to the services like online booking, direct interaction with experts, and e-visa.

Why Are Male Tourists More Likely To Visit India For Medical Tourism?

“Prevalence of cardiovascular disease among men make them the prominent traveling consumer category”

According to India medical tourism market trends and available data, it is noted that India majorly attracts male consumers to its medical services. There are a variety of reasons for the arrival of prominently male medical tourists into India.

Studies by major research centers have indicated that males are more likely to develop cardiovascular issues. Since India has been a hub for tourists suffering from cardiovascular issues, it leads to the India medical tourism market growth.

Which Age-Group Is Most Likely To Visit For Treatments?

“People aged 45 and above are more likely to travel for treatments.”

People over the age of 45 are more prone to experience prevalent health problems like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and muscle and joint problems.

This also applies to individuals in this age group who travel for medical care. They are the age group that is most likely to travel to India for medical reasons.

What is the Preferred Booking Channel in the India Medical Tourism Market?

“Online booking is the preferred booking channel”

Online booking has gained massive popularity in recent years. This is due to the ease of assessing the cost and the plethora of options it provides for the consumers to choose from.

Trustworthy and established tour agencies having an online presence makes it a more comfortable option for the consumers to book from, raising the demand for online booking in the India medical tourism market.

How Competition Influences the India Medical Tourism Market?

Leading players in the medical sector in India are quickly realizing the lucrative opportunity in the India medical tourism market. Major hospital chains have started offering their own care packages and services for people seeking medical treatment in India.

• Fortis Healthcare Group, with a chain of 29 hospitals in India, has started offering its own consultation packages for foreign medical patients seeking treatment.
• Indian insurers ought to make a serious effort to market their health plans to foreigners. An additional $9 billion in premium and patient influx to India could result from this.

Scope of Report          

India Medical Tourism Market by Category

By Treatment Type:

• Dental Treatment
• Cosmetic Treatment
• Cardiovascular Treatment
• Orthopedic Treatment
• Neurological Treatment
• Cancer Treatment
• Fertility Treatment
• Others

By Services:

• Wellness Services
• Therapeutic Services

By Tour Type:

• Independent Traveler
• Tour Group
• Package Traveler

By Consumer Orientation:

• Men
• Women
• Children

By Age Group:

• 15-25 Years
• 26-35 Years
• 36-45 Years
• 46-55 Years
• 66-75 Years

By Booking Channel:

• Phone Booking
• Online Booking
• In-Person Booking