DRMumbai: In a bid to build Maharashtra as a brand on the global platform, the State will play host to the first Health and Wellness tourism stakeholders’ meet on June 30 at the Taj Land’s End, Mumbai. Titled Maharashtra Health & Wellness Tourism Conference (MHWTC) 2018, the summit aims to set a benchmark to organise the fragmented industry of Health and Wellness tourism of the State.
It is going to be a grand symposium, bringing together the reputed stakeholders from the Health and Wellness tourism industry under a common platform, which will be an ideal arena to draw up strategies to achieve long-term sustainable growth, discuss challenges and opportunities, policies and regulations, brainstorm new ideas, network and share best practices in medical travel required. It will help professionals in Health and Wellness tourism industry to facilitate opportunities for marketing, business development and networking.
Jayakumar Rawal, Minister for Tourism and Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), Government of Maharashtra, will inaugurate the meet.
“Over the years, Maharashtra has gained a lot of attention worldwide for its tourism offerings. Recently, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has highlighted the potential of medical and wellness tourism at domestic and international platforms like Global Exhibition Services 2018 and Arabian Travel Market 2018. The State Government is planning to announce a medical policy to boost health tourism. Besides, we are planning to develop a wellness hub spread over 100 acres of land in Nashik and other destinations to boost wellness and medical tourism,” Rawal said.
MHWTC will bring together stakeholders from the Health and Wellness tourism industry under a common platform to draw up strategies to achieve sustainable growth
MHWTC envisions attendance of senior level executives, leaders and decision makers associated with the healthcare industry to gain insights into ways to optimise medical tourism in Maharashtra. Guest of Honour at MHWTC, Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, Minister for Labour, Skill Development, Earthquake Rehabilitation & Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Government of Maharashtra, said, “I appreciate the endeavour to make Maharashtra visibly successful on a global platform by organising the fragmented Health and Wellness tourism industry on the path of overall growth and profitability. The vision and motive to broaden the concept of Health and Wellness tourism is really futuristic and sustainable.”
The event organiser, Pandoza Solutions, was established to facilitate the emergence of Maharashtra as the top destination globally in the Health and Wellness tourism sector. Malvika Khadke, Director, Pandoza Solutions, said, “I hope that attendees at MHWTC 2018 will go away with a sense of empowerment that they have contributed to the first genuine effort to promote Maharashtra as a leading medical and wellness tourism destination. We also want to be the bridge that will provide a clear path to business growth for service providers in Maharashtra by connecting them with key international facilitators at this event. In this regard, this event is just the starting point with lots more of networking and business opportunities set to come up for stakeholders over the ensuing months.”
The conference aims to promote the healthcare services of the State, market tourism-led companies, develop skilled workforce, create medical value travel brand awareness for Maharashtra and build an association and promote community development in the sector.
Dr. Joy Chakraborty, Chairman, Cll WR Task Force on Healthcare and Chief Operating Officer, PD Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, said, “Medical tourism as an industry has been growing in India for the past 15 years. With the advent and advancement of private healthcare delivery systems, nuances and complexities are far more than anticipated and estimated by the stakeholders of medical tourism ecosystem. I am glad that MHWTC, the first-of-its-kind, is a well thought out structured initiative which includes the participation of international players. It will help stakeholders to gain deep insight and forge a symbiotic relationship.”
On the scope of medical tourism in India, Prajakta Marwaha, Director, Pandoza Solutions, said, “Medical tourism is set to be an estimated Rs. 500-billion industry in India by 2020. Wellness tourism is already a Rs. 490-billion industry. More and more patients globally prefer Maharashtra over other destinations for specialised medical and wellness treatments.”
MHWTC will also provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to meet and network with international buyers, exhibitors and investors from countries in GCC, SAARC, Africa, Japan, UK, USA, Europe and Russia. Dr. Anil Bankar, Assistant Professor, Gulf Medical University, UAE, said, “Medical tourism education will help develop ‘Brand Maharashtra’, if all stakeholders join hands to position the State as a leading brand in health and wellness tourism sector.”
According to Kavita Chandwani, Director, Pandoza Solutions, the State has the best practices as far as curative and preventive healthcare services are concerned. Dr. Samidha Patil, Director, Pandoza Solutions, said, “Maharashtra offers state-of-the-art infrastructure with modern amenities and world-class care, highly trained and qualified medical professionals with international experience, highest number of registered medical doctors in the nation and a well organised sector of complimentary and alternate medicines such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and Homeopathy. All of this at the most affordable cost.”
Destination Reporter – India Travel Magazine is the Magazine Partner of the event. For more details, visit www.mhwtc.in
