IndiaPost.com - TN plan to promote medical tourism as new strategy

CHENNAI: With burgeoning super specialty hospitals in the state attracting patients both from the country and abroad, Tamil Nadu now plans to promote "medical tourism" among others, as a "new strategy" to make it a favored tourist destination.

Tamil Nadu boasts of prominent hospitals like Apollo, Madras Medical Mission, Harvey's superspeciality and Sankara Nethralaya hospitals in Chennai and Arvind Eye Care and PSG Hospitals in Madurai and Coimbatore respectively, attracting patients from different parts of the country, as well as the Middle East, Pakistan and some African nations.

Citing the "availability of super specialty hospitals in the state, providing quality services at affordable cost," the Tamil Nadu government will adopt the strategy, in order to achieve its primary objective of making the state a favored domestic and international tourist destination.

"Tourism brochures will be specially designed in consultation with medical institutions for medical tourists with some useful tips on health care," a report of the state's Eleventh Five Year Plan read. The staff of the Tourism Department will be specially trained to attend to the specific needs of the people.

Further, publicizing and marketing festivals like Pongal and the dance festivals at Mahabalipuram and Chidambaram are also part of the strategy to achieve the said objective.

The harvest festival, 'Pongal', could well assume more significance as the state government recently rescheduled the Tamil calendar, announcing that Pongal will mark the birth of the new year. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had also appealed to the people to celebrate Pongal with pomp and fervor, as the harvest festival would henceforth coincide with the new year.

The Foreign Exchange (FOREX) earned from tourism, Tamil Nadu fared better as compared to national statistics. While the national figures stood at Rs 29,604 crore with a 17.6 per cent growth rate in 2006, Tamil Nadu earned a FOREX of Rs 3,020 crore and registered a higher growth rate of 18.15 per cent.

Further, with a view to showcase Tamil Nadu in the international arena, the state would participate in international shows like World Travel Mart - London, International Travel Bourse- Berlin and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) among others, the report said.

Among its strategies, the Tourism department also proposes to encourage participation of private and corporate sectors, and oil companies to develop areas like Golf Clubs, Adventure Tourism, cruises, Star Hotels and Heli-Taxi services, among others.

The 11th Plan's goal was to "increase the number of tourist arrivals from 446 lakh in 2007 to 718 lakh by 2012," it said. The plan outlay for Tourism is Rs 174.95 crore.