New Delhi : HL July 21, 2026
The Government of India is intensifying efforts to position the country as a global hub for Ayush-based medical and wellness tourism through a comprehensive strategy that combines easier access for international patients, globally accepted quality standards, international collaborations and academic initiatives.
As part of the strategy, the Ministry of Tourism, in consultation with the Ministry of Ayush and other stakeholders, has prepared a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism to enhance India’s appeal as a preferred destination for traditional medicine and holistic healthcare.
One of the key initiatives is the introduction of the Ayush Visa (M-3) and Ayush Attendant Visa (M-4), launched on July 27, 2023. The dedicated visa categories enable foreign nationals and their attendants to travel to India specifically for Ayush treatment, making access to traditional healthcare systems more convenient.
To strengthen global confidence in Indian traditional medicine, the Ministry of Ayush launched the Ayush Quality Mark during the Second Global Traditional Medicine Summit in December 2025. The certification aims to ensure internationally accepted standards of quality, safety and efficacy for Ayush products and services.
The Ministry has also operationalised Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for various Ayush disciplines, promoting evidence-based clinical practices and greater consistency in treatment protocols across institutions.
In a bid to expand global academic engagement, the Ministry offers scholarships under the International Ayush Fellowship/Scholarship Programme, enabling international students to pursue Ayush education at recognised institutions in India.
The Ayurveda Training Accreditation Board (ATAB), established under the Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth in 2019, continues to accredit Ayurveda training programmes in India and abroad that are outside the scope of existing statutory regulatory bodies.
To boost Medical Value Travel (MVT), the Ministry of Ayush has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to jointly promote Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine among international visitors.
The Ministry has also organised two regional Ayush-based Medical Value Travel Summits—one in Mumbai in September 2024 for the western region and another in Chennai in May 2025 for the southern region—to strengthen industry partnerships and promote India’s wellness ecosystem.
International outreach has been expanded through the Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH (IC) Scheme, which supports Ayush manufacturers, healthcare providers, academic collaborations and research initiatives worldwide. Under the scheme, India has signed 27 country-to-country MoUs, 16 Ayush Chair MoUs and 57 institute-level MoUs, significantly expanding the global footprint of Ayush systems.
Further reinforcing India’s leadership in traditional medicine, the Ministry of Ayush participated in the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, co-hosted by India and the World Health Organization in New Delhi in December 2025. During the summit, the Ministry held 16 bilateral meetings with participating countries to strengthen cooperation in regulation, research and medical value travel.
The information was shared by the Ministry of Ayush, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to establish India as a leading destination for traditional medicine, holistic wellness and medical value tourism.
