Tourism and healthcare industry leaders have called on Kerala to strategically engage its large non-resident population to strengthen the state’s growing medical value travel (MVT) sector. The suggestion was highlighted during the Kerala Health Tourism and Global Ayurveda Summit and Expo, where experts emphasized that the state has only tapped a fraction of the global demand for medical and wellness treatments.
Medical value travel has been registering rapid growth across various regions, with India emerging as a preferred destination for affordable and quality healthcare. Industry estimates suggest that around 1,500 patients travel from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to India every month for medical treatments. A significant portion of this market, experts believe, can be directed to Kerala by leveraging the State’s global diaspora network and established reputation in both modern and traditional healthcare.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for Kerala to attract patients, especially from the Middle East,” noted Dennis Sebastian, Vice President and Head of Health Solutions at RGA Reinsurance Company, Middle East. Citing long treatment waiting periods in countries such as the UK, he added that Kerala can position itself as a reliable and timely healthcare destination.
According to industry data shared at the summit, Kerala welcomed approximately 7.4 lakh foreign visitors in 2024 seeking medical and wellness treatments. Of these, nearly 60–70 percent chose Ayurveda-based therapies or wellness programs. Revenue from Ayurveda-driven medical tourism reached an estimated ₹13,500 crore in 2024, registering a sharp increase from ₹10,800 crore in the previous year.
Modern medical tourism has also been steadily rising, contributing nearly ₹40 crore per month to the Kerala economy, amounting to around ₹480 crore annually. Kerala currently attracts medical travellers from over 65 countries, said P.M. Varier, CII Kerala Ayurveda Panel Convenor.
Highlighting current trends, Hari N Namboothiri, Chairman of Sreedhareeyam Group, noted increasing patient inflows from Maldives, Oman, Japan, African nations, and South Asian countries. He added that Kerala’s blend of advanced clinical expertise and traditional healing systems has played a key role in strengthening global confidence in the state’s healthcare offerings.
The two-day summit, attended by delegates from 16 countries, featured discussions spanning Ayurveda, modern medicine, insurance integration, and research-based validation of treatments. The valedictory session was presided over by K. Saravana Kumar, Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai.
Looking ahead, Saji Kumar, Chairman of the Global Ayurveda Summit 2025, announced that the next edition will include a stronger focus on scientific research and clinical evidence in Ayurveda. The event saw participation from more than 10,000 professionals representing healthcare, tourism, academic, and research institutions.
