India aims to become the world's most trusted destination for medical and wellness tourism by 2035, as outlined in FHRAI and KPMG's new Heal in India report. Unveiled at the Heal in India 2025 Summit, the roadmap focuses on scaling infrastructure, trust policy, and global outreach with support from industry leaders and government representatives across tourism, healthcare and hospitality.
India has declared an ambitious plan to become the world's leading destination for medical nd wellness tourism by 2035. The announcement was made at the Heal in India 2025 Summit with the launch of the flagship report by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India and KPMG India titled Heal in India: Catalysing Medical and Wellness Tourism for a Healthier Global Future.'
The summit was inaugurated by Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, who emphasised the critical role of building trust, enhancing care delivery and sustaining service beyond traditional metro cities and encouraging participation from stakeholders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to make healthcare more accessible for international visitors.
India already attracts more than two million medical tourists from more than 75 countries. In 2024, more than 463,000 medical visas were issued, reflecting the increasing global relevance of the region. With its high-quality treatment at competitive prices and strong traditional medical systems, India is scheduled to expand the market from $18.2 billion in 2025 to $58.2 billion by 2035.
Dr Manoj Nesari, Advisor, Ministry of Ayush, pointed to India's strengths in holistic healing through Ayurveda and Yoga, which could be key differentiators for global wellness seekers. FHRAI President K Syama Raju described health in India as a national branding opportunity, reinforcing the image of India as a destination not just for treatment but for complete recovery and wellbeing.
KPMG India's Someswara Koundinya, a co-author of the report, called the document a strategic call to action. He emphasised the importance of digital transformation, global outreach, multilingual capacity building, and incentivising private investment to position India as a healthcare hub.
The Heal in India mission envisions stronger collaboration across tourism, health and policy sectors, with growing intentional demand and robust domestic capability. India is positioning itself not just as a centre of medical excellence but as a global leader in healing and hospitality.
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