Tourism and medical tourism

Tourism is travel undertaken for recreation rather than business. It has become the largest tertiary activity in the world in terms of registered jobs. It supports many local services: accommodation, food, transport, entertainment and special shops; and it promotes infrastructure, retail trade and craft industries (souvenirs).

What attracts tourists?

• Climate: people from cold regions seek warm, sunny beaches.
• Landscape: mountains, lakes, spectacular seacoasts and wild places.
• History and art: the history and art of an area, its ancient or picturesque towns, monuments and heritage sites.
• Culture and economy: tourists who enjoy experiencing ethnic and local customs. A region can earn from tourism by catering to them, for example with home-stays in Goa and in Coorg in Karnataka.

Medical tourism combines treatment with travel. Patients from abroad come for operations and treatments that are costly or have long waiting lists at home. India is a leading destination, along with Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, thanks to skilled doctors, modern hospitals and lower costs.

A related trend is the outsourcing of medical work: hospitals in developed countries send their medical tests, and the reading of MRI scans and ultrasound images, to be done by specialists in countries like India.