The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently introduced the Ayush (AY) visa, designed to attract foreign nationals interested in seeking treatments under Ayush systems and Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. The addition of the new visa category, named “Chapter 11A – Ayush Visa,” expands the Visa Manual, 2019, and signifies India’s commitment to promoting traditional healthcare practices globally.
This initiative comes in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement during the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit (GAIIS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in April 2022. By facilitating access to Ayush therapy, wellness, and Yoga in India, the Ayush Visa seeks to bolster the country’s Medical Value Travel industry and strengthen its position as a hub for traditional medicine on the world stage.
The Ministry of AYUSH and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) are working in tandem to develop a comprehensive “Heal in India” portal. This platform aims to promote India as a premier Medical tourism destination, showcasing the country’s rich heritage in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. A key step towards achieving this vision was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of AYUSH and the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to promote Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional therapies.
According to a report by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) titled ‘The Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond COVID,’ the global wellness economy is projected to grow at an impressive rate of 9.9% annually. The Ayush-based healthcare and wellness sector is expected to contribute significantly to this growth, with an estimated value of $70 billion by 2025. India’s focus on traditional healing practices and the introduction of the Ayush Visa are pivotal steps towards realizing this potential and establishing itself as a global leader in holistic healthcare and wellness.