Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia and Thailand. Belgium, Poland and Singapore are now entering the field. South Africa specializes in medical safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a nose job and a chance to see lions and elephants.

What is Medical Tourism?
Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of traveling across international borders to obtain health care. It also refers pejoratively to the practice of healthcare providers traveling internationally to deliver healthcare. In simple words get yourself treated while you are in a destination where you wish to travel.

India’s National Health Policy declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally an “export” and deemed “eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export earnings.” Government and private sector studies in India estimate that medical tourism could bring between $1 billion and $2 billion US into the country by 2012. The reports estimate that medical tourism to India is growing by 30 per cent a year. To understand the future of Medical Tourism in India, lets take a look at some facts and figures.

• Travel & Tourism sector creates more jobs per million rupees of investment plan, than any other sector of the economy.
• Travel & Tourism is the topmost sector after pornography in terms of www.
• In India Tourism is the third largest net earner of foreign exchange.
• India’s share in International Tourist arrival – 2005 – 0.34 percent, 2008 – 0.49 percent – total 3.92 million
• The World Travel Tourism Council – “India as one of the foremost growth centre in the world in coming yrs”.
• India has world class corporate hospitals and excellent treatment Centre’s in the world.
• Hospital infrastructure & technology on par with USA, UK & other European countries
• Success rate in India is 98.7% compared to 97.5% of US.
• Language no barrier – English speaking staff Language

• According to a Report of Mc Kinsey & Co sponsored by Confederation of Indian Industry (C II) named.–“Healthcare in India : The Road Ahead” report:-1.3 million medical tourists visit Asia / year and Nos. of US patients seeking cheaper care abroad – grew to 7,10,000 / year abroad
• Over 1, 50000 medical tourists travelled to India in 2002 bringing in earnings of $ 300 million. The figure rose to 3,00,000 for the period 2006-07.
• The annual growth rate of Medical Tourism in India - 2000 – 15% per year,  2007 – 30% per year
• $ 17 billion Indian Healthcare Industry contributes about 4% -5% of GDP. It is expected to grow @ 13% annually in next 5 yrs.
• Medical Tourism revenue can potentially rise from Rs. 5000 crores to Rs.10,000 crores per year.
• Health care spending in India will increase from Rs. 86,000 crores in 2000-2001 to over Rs. 200,000 crores by 2012.

So, unquestionably, the future of Medical Tourism in India seems to be very very bright. Now, what is needed to be taken care of is proper marketing which I believe can be adequately handled jointly by the Govt. and the private sector. Professional Training programmes designed only for Medical Tourism is also required to be introduced and incentivice State Governments in promoting Medical Tourism. South India, especially TN and Kerala being the frontrunner in this area is a mentionable achievement, but I would like to see world class treatment facilities in places like Shimla, Darjeeling, Nainital, Panaji too.

Most likely cause of the accident is said to be “loss of weight balance” as tourists could have moved to one side of the boat to see wild animals on the side of the periyar river.

History
The earliest record of the festival is found during the reign of Kulasekhara Perumals around AD 800. It has two specific significances. First it is the memory of community at large and celebration of past history as enunciated in the Mahabali legend – a story of how paradise was lost. Second it is the celebration of the harvest, tied with the memory of the golden age of prosperity.

Gods felt challenged with the growing popularity of Mahabali. They seeked help from Lord Vishnu who was worshiped by King Mahabali. Lord Vishnu took the avatar of a poor and dwarf Brahmin, called Vamana and came to the kingdom of Mahabali just after his morning prayers, when the King gave boons to the Brahmin.

The disguised Lord Vishnu asked for as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King made a promise to do so. Suddenly, Vamana increased to a massive size. With his one step he covered the whole of the sky and with the other he covered the whole of earth. He then asked for a place to put his third step. King realised that the boy was no ordinary Brahmin and asked Vamana to to put his third step on his head.

The boy did so, pushing Mahabali in the nether world, the patala. For the devotion of this Daitya Mahabali, Lord Vishnu (Vamana) granted him rule over Patala. Vamana aka Vishnu granted Bali the boon that he would hold the position of Indra for one Manvantara , thus fulfilling his devotee’s desire ( the office of Indra being a rotating position , changing every Manvantara ). It is this homecoming of King Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. As a last wish Mahabali was granted the permission to visit his subjects once a year. Thus, Keralites celebrate Onam festival to commemorate the memory of a Great King Mahabali who would keep his promise. Mahabali fulfilled his name as the great martyr for the sake of Truth (“Satya”). The name “Mahabali” itself means Great Sacrifice.

The most important things about Onam are the onakkodi, the new clothes worn on this day and onam sadya, a feast which is quite elaborate. This is usually a feast served on banana leaves and serves rice along with at least an array of 4 dishes. Traditional pickles and papadam are also served. Dessert is usually ‘payasam’, a sweet dish made of milk, sugar and other traditional Indian savories.

Onam Activities
During Onam, people create a multi-coloured floral decoration on the ground in the front of their home called pookkalam. Young children especially girls are often entrusted with the task of gathering and laying out the flowers in elaborate patterns. Competitions are held on onam day to create this floral design. It is usually 1.5 m in Diameter usually in circular shape. A lamp is usually placed as part of the design. In the recent years, the floral designs have evoloved from the traditional circular shape to unique designs depicting different cultural and social aspects of Kerala life.

The Vallamkali (the snake boat race) is another event that is synonymous with Onam. Well-known races include the Aranmula Boat Race and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. About 100 oarsmen row huge and graceful snake boats and men and women come from far and near to watch the snake boats skim through the water.

During the Onam, Keralite Hindus install an image of Thrikkakara Appan (Vishnu in the form of Vamana) in their home just as Hindus install images or murtis of Lord Ganesh on the Ganesh Chaturi festival.

This festival is also important because of its popularity with all communities within Kerala. Although the festival of Onam originated with, and is connected to the Hindu religion, it is celebrated today with equal fervour by the Hindus, Muslims and Christians of Kerala.

Many lamps are lit in Hindu temples of Kerala during this celebration.A palmyra tree is erected in front of temples and surrounded with a wooden balustrade and covered with dry palmyra leaves. It is lit with a torch and burned to ashes to signify that Mahabali went to hell as a sacrifice

The 2009 Onam falls on 2nd September.