India’s medical tourism market poised for US$ 58 billion surge by 2035

India’s medical tourism market is expected to grow from US$ 18.2 billion in 2025 to US$ 58.2 billion by 2035, highlights a recent report by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and KPMG India. In 2024, India issued over 460,000 medical visas, attracting patients from more than 75 countries. The report recommends expanding care beyond metro cities, creating treatment clusters, improving infrastructure, and strengthening global branding. With coordinated public-private efforts and innovation, India is positioned to become a global leader in healthcare and wellness tourism by 2035.

India’s medical tourism market is poised to surge from US$ 18.2 billion in 2025 to US$ 58.2 billion by 2035, according to a report by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and KPMG India. Released at the Heal in India 2025 Summit, the report titled Heal in India: Catalysing Medical and Wellness Tourism for a Healthier Global Future, positions India as a rising global hub for healthcare and wellness travel. The report also notes that the global medical tourism market valued at US$ 41.75 billion in 2024, while the global wellness tourism market is estimated at US$ 954.14 billion. Both sectors are expected to double in size by 2030 and 2034, respectively.

The report outlines a transformative national strategy that combines India’s advanced clinical capabilities with its rich heritage of wellness practices, positioning the country as the world’s most trusted destination for medical value travel (MVT). It highlights that Ayurveda and traditional healing systems are gaining increasing global recognition and importance.

India has witnessed a sharp rise in medical visa issuance, growing from 375,000 in 2019–20 to 463,725 in 2024–25. This increase underscores the growing interest among international patients seeking medical treatment in India and reflects the country’s expanding global reputation in healthcare. It also signals the need to scale up infrastructure and services to manage the rising influx of patients. The country welcomed over 2 million international patients from more than 75 countries, including Bangladesh, Iraq, Nigeria, Maldives, as well as developed nations such as the United States, Canada, and the UK. These visitors are drawn by India’s blend of affordable clinical care and holistic healing traditions like Ayurveda, yoga, and panchakarma, alongside advanced medical procedures.

To fully harness this opportunity, the report stresses that India needs to implement substantial tax incentives for hospitals that serve international patients and actively promote the growth of health-tech startups. These strategic measures are not just preferable but vital. As global demand for affordable, high-quality healthcare and wellness services increases, India’s competitive advantage will depend on its capacity to innovate, incentivize, and expand healthcare services globally through decisive policy support and impactful branding. The report recommends leveraging embassies, trade expos, and digital platforms to highlight India’s medical expertise. Focused marketing efforts can help establish the country as a leading destination for affordable, high-quality healthcare.

Mr. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director-General at the Ministry of Tourism, emphasized that India’s medical tourism strategy must go beyond offering basic care. He noted that market expansion alone is not sufficient; earning patient trust is equally essential. The ultimate goal should be to provide transformational healing rather than focusing solely on transactional services. Mr. Billa also underscored the need to extend quality healthcare facilities beyond major cities to tier 2 and 3 locations, expressing confidence in the sector’s strong growth potential in the coming years.

The report outlines several key recommendations including: 

1.) Launching National and State-Level Heal in India Missions with stakeholder coordination; 

2.) Creating treatment-specific and wellness tourism clusters in states like Kerala for Ayurveda, Delhi NCR for advanced care, and Maharashtra for multispecialty services; 

3.) Strengthening capacity building by training facilitators and providers on global standards and multilingual hospitality; 

4.) Developing tier II and III infrastructure through public-private partnership models and SEZ-style hubs to extend reach and access; 

5.) Conducting global branding campaigns by leveraging embassies, expos, and digital platforms under the ‘Heal in India’ umbrella; and 

6.) Incentivising investment through tax exemptions, foreign direct investment facilitation, fast-track approvals, and health-tech innovation grants.

Currently, India ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index and 7th in global wellness tourism, competing with destinations such as Thailand, Turkey, and Malaysia. However, India’s integrated healthcare model, offering both modern medical expertise and traditional wellness systems, is cited as a key differentiator.

India is steadily laying the groundwork to expand its medical tourism industry by combining policy incentives, infrastructure development, and focused branding strategies. The objective is not only sectoral growth but establishing India as a trusted global destination for wellness, holistic care, and advanced medical treatments. The country is on track to become a globally recognized leader in healthcare by 2035, driven by strong innovation and coordinated collaboration between the public and private sectors.