The Centre has intensified its efforts to position India as a global destination for traditional medicine and wellness tourism by rolling out a multi-pronged strategy to boost Ayush-based medical value travel, according to authorities on July 21.

As part of its National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism, prepared by the Ministry of Tourism in consultation with the Ministry of Ayush and other stakeholders, the government has launched a series of initiatives to attract international patients seeking holistic healthcare, on July 21.

A major milestone was the introduction of the Ayush Visa in July 2023,  dedicated visa categories—Ayush Visa (M-3) and Ayush Attendant Visa (M-4)—to facilitate foreign nationals and their companions travelling to India for treatment under Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy.

In another significant move, the Ministry of Ayush launched the Ayush Quality Mark during the Second Global Traditional Medicine Summit in December 2025. The certification aims to align Indian Ayush products and services with internationally accepted standards of quality, safety and efficacy, strengthening their credibility in global markets.

To promote evidence-based treatment, the ministry has also operationalised Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) across Ayush disciplines, ensuring greater consistency in clinical practices.

The government is simultaneously investing in capacity building by offering scholarships to international students under the International Ayush Fellowship/Scholarship Programme, enabling them to pursue Ayush courses at recognised institutions in India.

To standardise Ayurveda education globally, the Ayurveda Training Accreditation Board (ATAB), established under the Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, continues to accredit Ayurveda training programmes in India and abroad that fall outside existing statutory regulatory frameworks.

Recognising the tourism potential of traditional medicine, the Ministry of Ayush has partnered with the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) through a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly promote Ayurveda and other traditional systems under the Medical Value Travel initiative.

The ministry has also organised two regional Ayush-based Medical Value Travel Summits—in Mumbai in September 2024 for the western region and Chennai in May 2025 for the southern region—to connect healthcare providers, tourism stakeholders and international partners.

On the global front, the Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH Scheme, supporting Indian manufacturers and service providers in expanding exports and international outreach. Under the scheme, India has signed 27 government-to-government MoUs, 16 Ayush Chair agreements and 57 institute-level partnerships to promote research, academic collaboration and market development worldwide.

India's international engagement was further strengthened during the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, co-hosted by India and the World Health Organization in New Delhi in December 2025. The Ministry of Ayush held 16 bilateral meetings with participating countries to advance regulatory cooperation, policy coordination and global collaboration in traditional medicine and medical value travel.

The government's latest initiatives underscore its ambition to transform India's centuries-old traditional healthcare systems into a major pillar of medical tourism while enhancing the country's reputation as a global wellness destination.