Akshay

Kerala has excellent scope for medical tourism

Kerala, known as 'God's Own Country', has immense potential to develop medical tourism with major hospitals, travel industry and the state government jointly promoting the lucrative sector.

Medical tourism in Kerala is picking up as an attractive option for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign patients, who can get excellent medical care at less than one-fourth the cost in their own country, Director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Samad IVF Hospital, K G Madhavan Pillai, said.

Pillai noted that Thailand has been successful in attracting huge chunks of health tourists because of the development of world-class infrastructure.

India could follow Thailand's experience and tap medical tourism since it has unique and holistic medicinal services, he said.

"With yoga, meditation, ayurveda, allopathy, and other systems of medicines, India offers a unique basket of services to an individual that is difficult to match by other countries," Pillai told here.

The availability of high-quality healthcare infrastructure at reasonable prices makes Kerala an ideal destination for medical tourism, he said.

Even things like ordinary medical check-ups cost less in Kerala than they do in Europe and the US, he said, adding that medical tourism has tremendous potential in Kerala, which is also experiencing a tourism boom.

__________________
If at first you don't succeed, call it v1.0!

Akshay

Greece, India to promote tourism cooperation

By Xinhua

Athens, Aug 29 (Xinhua) Greece and India have expressed their strong willingness to strengthen their cooperation in the field of tourism.

Greece plans to open a tourist office in India aiming to promote tourism cooperation between the two countries, Greek Tourism Development Minister Fani Palli-Petralia said after meeting visiting Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

During their talks Monday, the two sides discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation in tourism.

The Indian minister stressed that the two countries have major prospects of cooperating in tourism technology, public relations and constructions, as well as promoting Greek tourism through India's flourishing film industry.

Both ministers also discussed a proposal to launch direct flights between Athens and New Delhi.

Copyright Xinhua

Akshay

Travel agents flash a peep at Indian tourism’s shining future
STATES BUREAU
Posted online: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 0000 hours IST

HYDERABAD, AUG 28: The theme for this year’s Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) convention, titled as the Indian Travel Congress, is called ‘The future is now’.

The theme reflects the ethos of the current environment in the travel and tourism industry, which is packed with new approaches, expanding horizons, larger markets, new players, more options for customers, intense competition and several other challenges and opportunities.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy is expected to inaugurate the 55th annual convention and exhibition of TAAI to be held from September 1-4, in HITECH City, Hyderabad.

Deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Muzzaffar Husain Baig will be the guest of honour, while leader of the Opposition LK Advani will present the valedictory note.

Nearly 1,500 delegates from across the country are expected to attend the convention and the Travel Mart, which will be held simultaneously.

Express TravelWorld, a monthly trade publication from the Business Publications Division of the Indian Express Group, has not only bagged the official publication status for Navigator 2007, the annual research manual for the travel and tourism industry, but are also the official organisers of the Travel Mart.

Commenting on the convention, minister for tourism and culture Ambika Soni said, “I am confident that TAAI would be able to synergise the efforts of the travel industry to create world class tourism infrastructure to meet the growing aspirations of a 21st century traveller. Multiple bottlenecks that plague tourism and travel industry need to be tackled diligently. I am confident that this annual conference of TAAI would build momentum on these issues.”

According to Ashwini Kakkar, the 55th travel Congress of TAAI is a significant moment in the history of the association, which is taking a mid-course correction to chart a new future for the industry. “The pace of technology, coupled with polarisation of customers ‘time rich cash poor customers’ versus ‘cash rich time poor customers’ has brought the future to our doorstep. The question is do we want to emulate the Indian software industry and transform ourselves into consultants providing expertise and solutions, operating across a whole spectrum of travel related services or do we want to be regulated to non-descript airline ticket pushers in a world of dis-intermediation. The answer to our future lies within us,” stated Kakkar.

The highlight of this year’s convention is each business session will have two key-note speakers and there will be a two-hour open forum on September 2 for members to discuss their issues with the managing committee. The business sessions are spread over two days, September 2 and 3, with three sessions each on both days.

The first business session, to be moderated by Interglobe Air Transport president and CEO Ashok Fenn is titled ‘Brick, Cick and Fire’ - which focuses on the future of the legacy travel set-ups vis-a-vis the online travel business. The subsequent speaker session will be on ‘emerging consumer trends’ in the travel industry and Cendant Corp vice-president, Daniel Dell Olmo will address the gathering.

‘Outbound Tourism’ will be the topic for the second business session. The third business session on day one will deal with the subject ‘Building an incredible India.’

The first speaker-session on September 3 will be addressed by Air Deccan chairman and MD Captain Gopinath, while Sudhakar Krishna Murthy, will discuss the topic, “Sexual Health - The bed room v/s board room,” in the second speaker-session. The final speaker-session of the day will be by IATA Travel Agency Commissioner Brian Barrow, on “Living with ADM’s.”

Akshay

BIMSTEC tourism ministers' meeting begins in Nepal
New Delhi, Aug 28, IRNA

With a view to promote regional cooperation in tourism development, the second BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation) tourism ministers' roundtable meeting is being held in Kathmandu from August 28 to 30.

Keeping in mind that multilateral efforts and regional cooperation could be more beneficial, the meeting will seek common agenda and program to promote tourism as a pertinent tool for socio-economic development in member countries, said Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Nepalese minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, reported Himalayan Times from Kathmandu.

The meeting is aimed at expanding and exchanging multisectoral 45 cooperation among member countries, particularly in reaping the benefits of rich natural beauty and diverse cultural heritage, which are huge tourism potentials.

"We are confident that all the BIMSTEC member countries can benefit a lot through proper exploitation of tourism potentials. Thus, we are proposing for collective efforts and a concrete plan of action," Gyawali added.

The event will take place in two phases -- Senior Official Meeting (SOM) and the ministerial roundtable.

The SOM will extensively discuss on the proposed agendas and prepare a report, which will be forwarded to the ministerial roundtable for the final approval, said Madhav Prasad Ghimire, secretary at the MoCTCA.

According to Gyawali, "The event will extensively discuss on 10 main agendas which includes common travel visa for the citizens of BIMSTEC member counties on arrival for 30 days."
The meeting will also discuss on issuance of common driving licence, setting up air link network and utilization of Asian Highway Network for the tourism promotion.

Referring to inactiveness of institutions formed under BIMSTEC, he said that the meeting would seek a consensus among the member countries for further strengthening and effective implementation of agreed points in the previous meetings.

Gyawali also informed that Nepal would propose for two different forums of tourism entrepreneurs and tourism journalists to be set up under BIMSTEC in order to expand business relations as well as information.

Lauding the role of media for the promotion of tourism, he expressed that the proposed BIMSTEC Media Forum for Tourism Journalists will bring together media persons of the region to disseminate right information on time.

According to MoCTCA, 28 foreign and over 50 Nepali delegates will take part in the meeting. The foreign delegates include Ambika Soni, tourism minister of India, Bhutanese tourism minister and state minister of Bangladesh.

The three-day long meeting will conclude on Wednesday with the issuance of Kathmandu Declaration and adopting a plan of action.

Akshay

Another article on India's shining medical tourism industry

South Africa: SA Patients Offered Cut-Price Ops in India

Sunday Times (Johannesburg)
August 27, 2008
Posted to the web August 28, 2006
Taschica Pillay
Johannesburg

A HEALTH consortium is offering South Africans cut-price operations in India as part of a new medical tourism venture.

The Southern African Health Alliance, the local partner in the scheme, said the initiative was aimed at affording South Africans wider medical options at a cheaper cost.

Spokesman Ebrahim Khan said that while the patient would be responsible for the travel costs, the scheme would ensure that the medical treatment was continued in South Africa after the trip.

The group formed a partnership with medical practitioners in India after its research showed that the cost of medication, surgery, nursing and hospitals was cheaper in the subcontinent than in South Africa.

Khan said the group's research showed that the cost of major surgery was 33% cheaper in India.

Khan said the group wanted to target specialised areas such as heart bypass surgery.

"The cost factor in the private sector is prohibitive, and the waiting period at state hospitals is too long," he said. "People have also started enquiring about plastic surgery, laser treatment and abdominal surgery."

The service is expected to be up and running within a month.

The group's partners in India are the Mumbai-based Raja Rani Health Alliance.

Asgar Khan, CEO of the alliance, said the venture had the backing of the Indian government.

He said that, on arrival, patients would be taken through immigration to the hospital, where they would be examined by a medical team at one of the group's top hospitals.

A family member would be accommodated free in the hospital's hotel wing.

He said the group were already treating patients from the UK and Dubai, who were enjoying the benefits of cheaper healthcare.

"Our company has alliances with almost all the top hospitals in any part of India, depending on the patient's preference," said Khan.

"This initiative helps patients undergo the required surgery faster and at a cheaper rate."

Hospital Association of SA CEO advocate Kurt Worrall-Clare said the venture would encourage healthy competition among service providers and offer patients a variety of options.

Worrall-Clare said their own research had shown that local medical institutions would not be affected, as an increasing number of foreigners were coming to South Africa for medical treatment.

"We have noticed that with improved health confidence, South Africa has become a country of choice for medical treatment," he said.

"The rand-dollar exchange rate also helps in making it affordable. South Africa is being recognised internationally as a country with health excellence."

Akshay

This is getting hilarious & embarressing now

Poverty for sale
Monday, August 28, 2006 07:24:01 pm

It’s turning the idea of Incredible India. The India of the Taj Mahal and the backwaters of Kerala on its head.

Rs 600 per person

For years now, a group of self styled tour guides have been selling the dirtiest, dingiest, poorest sights of India to tourists ready to pay a price to see raw poverty up close and personal.

This is a new kind of tourism that would have most Indians shocked. To put it simply, it’s slum tourism.

“I just expected to see a lot of poverty stricken people filth everywhere and people just sitting around and doing nothing but everyone's working here,” said Rachel Constantine, one of the tourists who has taken a paid trip of Mumbai’s poverty.

The company that runs this particular tour aptly calls itself Reality tours and travels and for Rs 600 per person, takes foreign tourists through the dirt and crime infested underbelly of Mumbai's Dharavi Slum, which incidentally is also the biggest slum in Asia.

Under the garb of labour

Area foreigners would not have been able to visit on their own and an experience which off record the tour operators admit they would not get in their own countries. On record though, since they know cameras are following this is presented as a close up view of Dharavi's plastics industry, but then that's a poor excuse for a touristy taste of Indian poverty.

“Initially, we thought we will see a lot of poverty but after coming here we realised there is so much labour going on they are making a huge turnover somewhere to the tune of 600 million USD,” said another tourist Edward Owens.

This slum tourism company has a foreign partner who we're told is away in South America, but for the last few months it has got a large number of foreign tourists dying to see the Indian poverty they've read and heard about.

So, under the garb of showing how hard working the poorest of the poor in Mumbai really are, this has been a good money making machine for the so-called tourist company.

Slum dwellers outraged

TIMES NOW spoke to some of the slum dwellers who reacted very sternly to the news of their poverty being at sale.

“These guys will be shown our poverty and money will be made out of it but what will we get out of it?” questioned a visibly angry slum dweller.

“It’s so wrong to show our poverty to these foreigners. It’s like making a huge joke out of the desperation and poverty here,” opined another slum dweller.

The tourists themselves though talk of how they want to see Indian industriousness and hard work in these by lanes of Asia's largest slum.

But is this the right image of India, and even if its one facet, is it right to sell it for a price to anyone and get it captured on amateur video as an image of India today?

We can't quite decide, but the fact that one man's poverty can be a foreign tourist's travel destination is definitely some food for thought.

(By Abhishek Choudhuri, Manasi Patil)

Akshay

Globalization Of Healthcare: The World Is Getting Flatter; Economic Opportunities Beckon
By Grace Whi-Tze Ueng, Special To LTW
Editor’s note: Local Tech Wire asked Grace Whi-Tze Ueng to discuss the proceedings at the Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s recent biotech form. Ueng, founder and chief executive officer of Savvy Marketing Group, moderated the panel.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - A record-breaking crowd of over 225 people kicked off CED’s 2006-2007 Biotech Forum series by attending a discussion on “The Impact of Globalization in Healthcare” earlier this month.

A lengthy waiting list was accommodated through an overflow seating theatre validating the strong interest in the Triangle on this topic. The event was co-hosted by CED and the North Carolina Chinese Business Association (NCCBA) with corporate sponsorship from IBM.

Panelists included Victor Dzau, MD, Chancellor for Health Affairs, Duke University and president and chief executive officer of the Duke University Health System; Art Pappas, managing partner of Pappas Ventures; Dan Pelino, general manager of IBM Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry; and John Ratliff, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Quintiles Transnational.

These experts raised eight key points:

1. U.S. Healthcare System Is “Broken” – Our looming healthcare crisis has garnered heated debate, yet we can be proud of strides in medical innovation during the same timeframe. The U.S. ranks only 13th among developed nations on the key leading healthcare indicator -- average age expectancy -- and lower if taking many less developed nations into consideration. We spend more per person on healthcare than any other country, yet in overall quality, our care ranks 37th in the world, according to World Health Organization studies.

2. Standardization Of Healthcare Globally Will Take Time – While standards exist when a patient has a heart attack in the U.S., in Europe, and in Africa, it will take time to achieve true global standardization. Duke University is spearheading the Global Health Initiative and has been recognized in ComputerWorld for their innovative IT implementations. Around the world, Peking University has instituted healthcare management initiatives to facilitate this standardization goal. It is important to recognize that different ethnicities react differently to drugs – for instance, Dr. Dzau brought up that since he is Chinese, his reaction to a particular substance may be different than a person of another color.

3. Innovation In Multiple Areas Is Critical To Globalizing Healthcare - Not only with the more obvious areas such as drug discovery and clinical services, but also with other areas such as better reimbursement processes, IT implementation, facilities to practice evidence-based medicine, and the availability of skilled leadership. When all these key ingredients are in synch, acceleration of the cycle of innovation takes place. “We need to unleash all the power of information by using IT to allow all information to flow through the healthcare process. IT is the link that holds this all together,” said Pelino.

4. Globalization Of Healthcare Has Changed Healthcare And Pharmaceutical Delivery In The U.S. - We need to wake up and realize that the rest of the world is moving faster than we are and that it is only prudent to outsource certain services for the sake of our patients. Patients’ expectations in a critical healthcare moment are that their x-rays will be read immediately. Having highly trained radiology technicians in India reading their scans over night is just one specific example of how timely healthcare decisions can be made for patients in the U.S.

In our local community, Duke Clinical Research Institute conducts studies at more than 3592 sites in 64 countries and it is Duke’s responsibility to ensure consistent quality worldwide to maintain DCRI’s position as the world’s largest academic clinical research organization.

5. Outsourcing Beyond Manufacturing And True Innovation In Developing Countries – While India and China were most often cited for their outsourcing and innovation, panelists wanted to make sure other developing countries were included such as Singapore, Brazil, and Eastern Europe. India was given most credit for IT innovation and there was mixed reaction to their emerging trade in ‘medical tourism’ where hips can be replaced or resurfaced at 10 percent of the U.S. list price – a saving grace for the millions of uninsured or underinsured U.S. citizens and for those seeking a break on cosmetic surgery or dental work which is often not covered by insurance.

For instance, Brazil has long been a haven for aesthetic surgery and buoyed by natural product resources, their plastic surgery business has flourished. Finally, Dzau noted the large strategic investment Singapore has been making in the biotechnology sector in the last decade, specifically in the area of stem cell research stating that "people are going to Singapore instead of Stanford to do stem cell research".

6. Globalization Of Healthcare Has Unleashed Business Opportunities In The U.S. - Dzau cited the partnership between Singapore Medical School and Duke which has a budget north of $40 million. The legal infrastructure in both India and even more so in China leave a lot of room for discomfort for U.S. counterparts who want their IP protected in partnering with these developing countries. This brings opportunity to the legal sector to help accelerate healthcare globalization – a definite contending track for our 2007 Triangle Globalization Conference.

7. Global Reimbursement Challenges – Socialized medicine versus employer sponsored – what will rule? I asked the question of how new (and presumably) better therapies will be paid for as they are introduced into areas of the world that have not traditionally had these options. Dzau brought up the fact that 45 million people in the U.S. are uninsured and urged that we examine the issue as individuals “who have human rights versus commodities in healthcare”. He predicted that perhaps a two tiered system would arise. Pelino added: "Healthcare is becoming an integration play, especially how the payer and provider work together…we're starting to see a new era around patient-centric solutions in healthcare". Early data already shows that banks are coming into the healthcare reimbursement scene to come to the rescue including in our region, Bank of America.

8. Who Is Investing In Healthcare/Biotech Startups In Emerging Markets?- Assuming there is universal access to information enabling increased innovation in China, India and other emerging countries, venture groups within large multinational corporations and standalone western venture funds are now setting aside funds to invest in emerging market growth opportunities – adding more risk/reward component to their stable of existing assets.

Venture funds in the Southeast are not directly investing in emerging markets mainly due to their size and geographic positioning. Startups must go to larger private equity and venture funds in larger cities that have set up China or other specifically earmarked emerging market funds – are we missing an opportunity? Are we culturally insular or fixed by our location? Other options include multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies that all have venture groups investing in emerging markets as well as high net worth angel investors residing in the regions themselves.

With all the talk about globalization, a flat world, medical tourism, internationally conducted trials, one still has to collect sufficient data to properly monitor and evaluate the quality and sustainability of the delivery or service. In some areas, it is simply too soon to have longitudinal data to verify the anticipated result. New and changing regulations, both in the U.S. and abroad, will also play a critical role in the development and approval processes. In a word, whether you are a scientist or an investor, be careful, inspect what you expect, and don’t jump to conclusions.

From the record-breaking attendance at the forum, it is obvious that the Triangle is hungry for more information – and opportunities.

The Triangle has potential to be engaged more globally…we have much to learn from other countries as well as much to offer. There are 4 billion people in the world who live in poverty and are unable to gain access, never mind afford, 21st century medical care. About 20 percent of our U.S. population is uninsured. We rank low among other developed nations among life expectancy. Healthcare innovation is taking place not only in our backyard, but also in emerging markets.

There is talk amongst leading entrepreneurial groups to host a Triangle Globalization Conference in 2007 – there is so much here in RTP to discuss on a local level and then to band together, partner, and make wider reaching global contributions within our lifetime.

Akshay

Wealth through health
SMART TALK
Atul Sathe / Mumbai August 28, 2006

The healthcare services delivery sector comprising big organised hospitals like Apollo, Wockhardt, Escorts, Lilavati and Hinduja has been on a growth path.

As medical tourism gains ground, revenues from foreign patients, which account for 10-15 per cent of the total, are expected to contribute a significant chunk going forward.

Apollo Hospitals, a leading player in the sector, saw a consolidated turnover growth of 16.5 per cent of Rs 770 crore for FY06 and a net profit growth of 35 per cent to Rs 47 crore. The turnover has grown by 67 per cent over the past three years, while the net profit has climbed up by over 145 per cent.

In Q1 FY07, the company posted a 30 per cent y-o-y growth in turnover and a 23.6 per cent growth in net profit. Apollo’s stock price has appreciated by over eight per cent over the past month.

Analysts clearly see medical tourism as one of the drivers for the health care service sector, with patients enjoying about 60 per cent savings in treatment costs in India as compared to their home country.

Other major factors driving the sector include networking and value added services, attempts to expand geographical reach and lifestyle diseases associated with the current urban lifestyle. On trailing 12 months earnings, the stock trades at 34.9x, while according to analysts’ estimates, it trades at 16.1x on FY07E earnings.

Suneeta Reddy, executive director-finance, Apollo Hospitals Group talks to The Smart Investor about growth strategies.

What growth do you foresee in the health care sector in India, across different segments, in the coming five years?

The healthcare services delivery sector is in its infancy stage with rapid growth potential. Sector growth will clearly outstrip GDP growth by a few percentage points. The latent healthcare demands are unmet due to lack of third-party payers like insurance companies.

This penetration is a meagre 2 per cent or thereabouts. If the health insurance penetrates to about 10 per cent or so, there would be a releasing of “capacity to pay” constraint, which should unleash the huge pent up demand. Indian citizens today have no access infrastructure, which has to be built up and precede physical infrastructure.

How much do foreign patients contribute to your total revenues? What growth do you expect in the same?

Our foreign patients in volume and value contribute to just under 10 per cent today. We expect demand to be robust in this segment.

The drivers for such growth are a huge waiting list in developed countries, large under-insured or non-insured population and the opportunity for at least 10 major low risk tradable medical procedures as described by WHO authors (who have indicated the figure at $2 billion that can come to India).

Moreover, India is developing as a brand and the positive trend among the lay public in Asian and western countries is improving discernibly in the past few years.

Vastly improved medical infrastructure and highly specialised skill sets of Indian clinicians are other positives. The international standards that we practice in our hospitals and the English speaking population are natural assets. A well-developed pharma sector also helps.

How much does foreign income contribute to your total revenues at present and what are your targets?

There are two categories of foreign income, viz. management income and income from hospitals abroad. In the year ended March FY06, we generated a foreign management income of Rs 5.12 crore and our Sri Lankan hospital touched a turnover of Rs 80 crore.

However, as it is an associate, we do only equity consolidation and not line by line consolidation.

Apollo has not invested in setting up any hospitals abroad except for its facility in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Apollo’s consultancy division is developing relationships mostly in the management mode and investments are an exception rather than the rule.

What are your strategies going forward?

We plan to consolidate in the tertiary care market in India in the following specialities: cardiology & cardiothoracic, orthopaedics & trauma, neurology & neuro sciences, oncology, radiology and imaging.

Currently, we are also planning to emulate world trends by setting up ambulatory surgery centres and also a chain of secondary care hospitals based on the First Med model.

Besides, we are also setting up a central referral lab, thereby leveraging our partnership with John Hopkins International. The benefit of this tie-up would be made available to all our 40 odd owned and managed hospitals across the country.

Acquisitions would be made on an extremely selective basis, based on the potential targets in terms of strategic fit, operating and EBITDA margins and, of course, growth potential in key geographic locations.

Do you fear cost pressures building up in future due to higher overhead expenses?

Input costs such as materials, manpower and facility have been rising steadily. However, they are well-managed and monitored and there is nothing in them that we do not understand, as we have over two decades of experience.

Akshay

'Bed and breakfast' scheme for C'wealth Games

Press Trust of India
New Delhi, August 28, 2006

With lakhs of foreign tourists expected to visit Delhi during the Commonwealth Games 2010, the government is planning to implement the 'bed and breakfast' scheme for accomodating visitors as paying guests.

"Bed and breakfast is a scheme successfully implemented by many countries when a large number of visitors are to be accomodated. Let us also try to implement it in New Delhi," Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni told reporters in New Delhi on Monday.

Soni, who was speaking after inaugurating an International summit on 'Investment Opportunities for Infrastructural Development', said the government would also be setting up budget hotels in the capital.

She said the government will not allow the recent Mumbai blasts to create hinderance in the inflow of visitors. "We have asked our embassies abroad to ensure that the present security scenario in India should not affect the inflow of tourists to the country," she said.

Soni added the government had to balance the need to ease the visa regime for tourists with the security demands in view of the rising threat of terrorism.

She also said the ministry was in the process of developing a circuit connecting important temples, churches, gurdwaras and mosques in the country keeping in mind the vast number of pilgrims coming from abroad.

The conference was jointly organised by the Punjab government and the International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry.

Akshay

Medical tourism is growing in both directions

Lee Bowman
Published: Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006

Most people prefer to curl up at home when they’re sick. But for what seems to be a growing number of Americans, the path to health care leads overseas.

Medical tourism isn’t an entirely new concept. Even half a century ago, movies were shipping heroes and bad guys to Switzerland or Argentina to acquire a new face along with a new identity.

More recently, most procedures abroad were either of the cosmetic elective sort no insurance plan would cover, or driven by personal economic motives to get a better price for, say, dental care or a knee replacement for which someone was paying out of pocket because they lacked health coverage.

The cost of surgery in places such as India, Thailand and South Africa can be a 10th as much as in the United States or Western Europe, even with Western-trained surgeons and the most modern of facilities.

Tourism-industry experts estimate several million visitors cross national borders worldwide for health care each year, including tens of thousands of Americans, although no exact numbers are kept.

In fact, the balance of trade in medical care for many years has favored the United States, with well-off patients from countries with less advanced medical care, or restrictions or delays for some procedures, traveling here for care – Canadians seeking elective surgery that’s a low priority under its national health-insurance system, for instance.

But the real growth area for take-out medical care has been the more developed nations of Asia, Latin America and Africa. (Remember Brad and Angelina’s birthing sojourn to Ghana earlier this year?)

Just in the last year or two, medical-tourism agencies have moved to contract with small, self-insured company benefit plans to offer foreign medical care as a discount option to workers. And there are reports that some larger companies may begin outsourcing employee health care overseas.

There are qualms, however, about this sort of adventure travel, even to facilities that have been accredited by international organizations and added to insurance companies’ preferred-provider lists.

One argument against it has been that setting up and staffing Western-style hospitals and clinics may drain health-care resources and talent that might otherwise serve the locals. Of course, the same complaint has been made about the thousands of foreign doctors and nurses who staff much of the health-care system in this country.

At least in theory, proponents of medical tourism argue, the facilities and expertise are available to natives as well as tourists. In fact, some smaller countries have embraced medical tourism in order to bring a level of quality to health care they couldn’t afford if serving just their own populations.

Experts on international medical care generally suggest that patients seek only relatively simple, low-risk procedures that allow for quick recovery and little follow-up care, such as knee surgery, cosmetic surgery and vision-correction surgery.

And find out in advance what contingencies the hospital or clinic has in place if you develop complications, require a longer recovery or need follow-up care beyond the time you expected to be away.

Akshay

Over 250 national monuments under encroachment

Maneesh Chhibber
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 27

They are our link to the country’s glorious past. But, this link is in the danger of being snapped. For, over 250 Centrally protected monuments, all under the control and protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), continue to be under the illegal encroachment of unscrupulous elements.

And, as if this was not enough, a majority of the encroachments date back to the pre-1992 period, when the authorities actually woke up to the scale of the problem. Though the country does have the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and the Public Premises Act, 1971, lack of support from various state governments and severe staff shortage have allowed encroachers to have a free run.

Official documents accessed by The Tribune point to the failure of the ASI to rid the protected monuments of encroachers.

The Uttar Pradesh circle of the ASI, which has the task of preserving and protecting protected monuments in and around Lucknow, Agra and Patna circles, enjoys the infamy of having the most — 85 — protected monuments under its control under encroachment. The state of Karnataka, which boasts of world-famous Sanchi and Stupa monuments, follows the list with 56 encroached monuments. They are followed by the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Delhi Circle), where 14 protected monuments and sites are under the control of outsiders, and Gujarat, where 13 monuments are under constant threat from encroachers.

Of the important protected monuments and sites of heritage value in New Delhi, Kashmere Gate, Lothian Road Cemetery the Purana Qila, tomb of Razia Sultan and the Sunehri Masjid near the Red Fort are all encroached upon. Despite repeated attempts, none of these monuments has been got freed.

The ASI has the task of protecting a total of 3,663 monuments and sites of national importance across the country. Following pressure from members of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, which is headed by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, and NGOs, the ASI conducted a nation-level survey of all 3,663 monuments and sites under its control and found that over 250 were under encroachments.

Officials in the ASI attribute the failure to evict encroachers to the lack of prompt support of state governments and state law-enforcing agencies as also meagre funding from the Union Government.

However, taking a strong note of the failure of the ASI and the government to reclaim these monuments, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has asked the ASI to redouble its efforts in this regard. It has also asked the Tourism Ministry, under whose control the ASI falls, to consider putting up modern surveillance gadgets such as close-circuit cameras, etc. at all important monuments and sites and also increase staff for protecting these monuments. Presently, Taj Mahal is the only protected monument in the country where security is considerably tight. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is responsible for protecting the monuments.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that in a bid to better conserve, maintain and protect all monuments and sites, the Union Ministry of Tourism and the ASI are contemplating involving the private sector in a big way.

Explained a senior official, who did not wish to be quoted, “Basically, the proposal is to involve big companies and establishments to adopt one monument each and take the responsibility of its conservation and maintenance. In this way, the private players will be able to gain publicity, while the monuments will get a better up-keep.”

Akshay

Tour operators’ convention in Jaipur from Sep 7

Saturday, August 26th, 2006

Jaipur - The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the national apex body of the tourism industry, will hold its 22nd annual convention here from Sep 7 to 10.

Established in 1982, the IATO has international acceptance and linkages. It has over 4,000 members covering all segments of the tourism industry.

Travel trade associations like the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Rajasthan, the Rajasthan Tour Operators Association, the Heritage Hotels Association and the Hotel Association of Jaipur are supporting the convention.

‘The department of tourism, which has been at the forefront for marketing Rajasthan at all national and international forums, is the sponsor of this convention,’ Vinod Zutshi, secretary for tourism, told IANS.

He said that the department had recently announced a landmark Hotel Policy, which aims to meet the accommodation needs.

Emphasis is being laid on the public-private partnership so that new investments are made in the state and generate gainful employment for the people.

He said Rajasthan is one of the most favoured destinations of both domestic and international tourists. In view of the significance of tourism in economic development the government has taken various policy measures for establishing tourism as a ‘people’s industry’.

Akshay

Recreating an authentic Kerala experience

The India Tourism Development Corporation pioneered beach tourism when it secured India's place in the sun with its Kovalam Resort near Thiruvananthapuram along Kerala's Arabian Sea shores way back in 1972.

Taj's Fort Aguada followed a few years later in Goa and in the 1990s, the Leela Group brought in a more contemporary version of beach resorts there. Around the turn of the century, the Casino Group (renamed CGH Earth) put Kumarakom on the world map with its now famous Coconut Lagoon, with two new experiences, cruising in the backwaters and living in transplanted traditional palatial homes in rural Kerala known as the illams or homesteads. Paul John, son of a Karnataka plantation and liquor baron (whose Original Choice is perhaps the best selling whisky in South India), chanced to stay at Coconut Lagoon and fell in love with Kumarakom. He hooked on to the idea of a beach resort and took over from where CGH Earth left off.

Kumarakom beckons

Sixteen kilometres from Kottayam, Kumarakom, which was originally popular for its bird sanctuary, is a picturesque island surrounded by the Vembanad Lake with lots of streams and canals providing an ideal setting for a backwaters experience through rice fields and fishing villages. It took John almost 18 months to find a piece of 25 acres, replete with 12 water bodies. The first phase of his dream project - Kumarakom Lake Resort - was commissioned in 2000 and the second in 2002 with a total of 51 distinctive villas representing the region's architectural styles.

Paul prefers to call them cottages as, "they have been painstakingly assembled from 40 age old homes in various villages in Kerala and assembled here". Kumarakom Lake Resort, with 22 poolside villas, has an innovative meandering pool 250 metres long, perhaps the longest in any resort. John describes the villas as opulence and regality at their best - ceramic tiled floors, angular lattice worked roofs, carved gabled fronts and tingling locks, wooden furniture, oval-shaped mirrors, ceramic switches, murals depicting mythology - virtually everything one would find in a traditional Kerala homestead.

More spectacular are the public areas. The magnificently carved door at the reception has historical significance in its carved images of Parthasarathi on horseback, of Lord Krishna with his gopikas. The 200-year old Ettukettu (eight-sided mansion with two quadrangular courtyards) restaurant building was the ancestral home of Edamana Kallamthat Gurukkal near Thiruvalla. It was gifted to the teacher of martial arts from Marthandavarma, the Travancore Maharaja. Some of the finest wood carvings are on the crossbars on the roof of the restaurant. The care with which some of the structures have been transplanted has earned the holiday place the official status of heritage resort.

With an investment of Rs 30 crore, the Kumarakom Lake Resort broke even in 2005. Asked if he was happy with the returns from his investment, John said his true satisfaction came from what he had succeeded in creating as an authentic Indian (and Kerala) experience for visitors. He is now building an all-suites hotel and plans to open it by February 2007. He also has his eyes set on Hampi.

Akshay

A passage to incredible India!
PAVAN BHATIA

The respectable Beverly Hills Indian eatery, Gaylord held the Incredible India presentation for local travel agents to get a glimpse of a most wondrous destination. Director, Vikas Rustagi of India Tourism in Los Angeles spoke with passion about his homeland and about the culture and diversity India can bring to a perspective tourist. With the “Incredible India!" campaign, this is an effort to "Brand" India. You may have seen these delightfully colored advertisements in banners and brochures throughout the airports of the world, but little do you need to sell a country whose existence is a Technicolor dream, but packaging the dream is the key.

"In a country as diverse and complex as India, it is not surprising to find that people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian. According to five thousand years of recorded history."

The audience sat enchanted while images on a an overhead projector gave viewers a plunge of what they might find if they were to make a trip of a life time, may it be through the Jungles, the amazing forts or the snow capped mountain tops of the Himalayan mountain range. The guests enjoyed Indian snacks while viewing these spectacular images.

"India holds virtually every kind of landscape imaginable. An abundance of mountain ranges and national parks provide ample opportunity for eco-tourism and trekking, and its sheer size promises something for everyone. From north to south India extends a good 2000 miles (3200 km), where the island nation of Sri Lanka seems to be squeezed out of India like a great tear, the synapse forming the Gulf of Mannar."

According to recent statistics from the "Incredible India" data base, "foreign tourist arrivals in India during 2004 went up by an average of 25.9% over corresponding figures of 2003 and foreign exchange earnings were up by nearly 40%

India is poised to emerge as the 2nd fastest growing (8.8%) tourism economy in the world over 2005-14 according to the World Travel & Tourism Council

India made it to No.5 on the top 10 destination list for 2004 by Chicago based iExplore.com, a dramatic vault from the 36th slot it occupied in 2003

The Lonely Planet Pulse Survey conducted among 20,000 respondents across 167 countries, ranked India among the top five most desired tourist destinations".

The "Incredible India" campaign has become one of the leading tools to refresh and bring forth the image of India to a new generation of foreign and domestic travelers. The campaign plays on the western worlds craze on Yoga and healing, showing images of serene environments and alluring vistas. The photographs are irresistible.

The presentation that evening introduced a diverse group of individuals including Sanjay Shreevats, Assistant Director of India Tourism who explained in detail the various aspects the new "Incredible India" campaign is focusing on other aspects beyond the typical tourist attractions. Aspects such as "Medical Tourism" and "Educational Tourism". Each tourist generates a whole slew of opportunities of the resident Indian which relates to revenue for the country and a memorable experience for the tourist. Shreevats further explains how there is a great effort being put in attracting the new world tourist to not only the popular destinations, but to the rural areas with there unique languages, style of dress and handicrafts all there own. They want the tourist to further inform the little known areas and diverse populations of India, beyond Delhi, the capital city of the Federal Republic of India and Mumbai, the Hollywood of the orient. Bollywood different from Holl