Latest news with #SumanBilla
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
City-level convention bureaus must be formed to tap into MICE potential, says tourism official
Suman Billa, Director-General in the Union Ministry of Tourism, on Tuesday advocated for city-level convention bureaus across the country to tap into the cities' MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) potential. While India was largely a venue-centric destination, he called for a shift to become an ecosystem-centric one, which brought together various stakeholders, offering single-window service, among others. In his address on 'The Government's Vision for Bringing Global Events and Exhibitions to India' during the 'IEIA Connect-Focus South' event, organised by the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA), Mr. Billa recalled that hosting the G20 Summit proved that the country did not just have the infrastructure but ability to hold such world-class events. Advocating for an ecosystem centric system, Mr. Billa said instead of one organiser putting together the event, stakeholders — venue, hotels, caterers, audio-visual technicians, florists, among others — can come together to organise it, he said. 'This will significantly improve the efficiency of the way we do things. What we need to do is build institutional architecture that supports collaboration, simplifies processes, and proactively brings businesses to India,' he said. 'You will not be able to achieve this unless you have MICE city bureaus,' Mr. Billa said, and pointed to Singapore, Dubai, London, and Frankfurt, where such bureaus had been constituted. 'We should also do that if we want to have a realistic chance to succeed,' he said, adding that these bureaus would essentially function as aggregators of services, offering bundle packages and other services. He said Chennai could focus on events around the automobile sector, while Bengaluru and Hyderabad could hold technology-related events. While Kochi could focus on events around wellness, Visakhapatnam could look at events involving maritime business and trade, he added. IEIA president Sooraj Dhawan, IEIA Southern Region chairperson Srikanth T.G., Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Amrapali Kata, Karnataka Tourism Commissioner Rajendra, K.V., Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director T. Christuraj, Government of Andaman and Nicobar's Secretary Tourism Jyoti Kumari, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Sikha Surendran, CEO Hyderabad Convention Visitors Bureau Gary Khan, were among those present at the inaugural.
India.com
17-07-2025
- Health
- India.com
Indian Medical Tourism Market To Surge From $18.2 Bn In 2025 To $58.2 Bn By 2035: Report
The report, by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in collaboration with KPMG, showcased the country's ambitious vision to become the global medical hub by 2035, rising at a CAGR of 12.3 per cent. The report also outlines a transformative national strategy that integrates India's clinical expertise with its centuries-old wellness traditions, aiming to make the country the world's most trusted destination for medical value travel (MVT). It showed that India is emerging as a cost-effective alternative offering both modern surgeries and natural recovery options like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Panchakarma. India ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index and seventh in wellness tourism, and attracts nearly 2 million international patients from 75 countries. The report showed that medical visa issuance rose to 463,725 in 2024, with the majority of patients from Bangladesh, GCC nations, and Africa. Ayurveda and traditional medicine are gaining significant global importance, said Dr. Manoj Nesari, from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while unveiling the report at the Heal in India 2025 Medical and Wellness Tourism Summit, organised by the FHRAI in the national capital. "India is very rich in traditional healing, and the government has taken a plethora of initiatives to boost this sector as an alternate economy in recent years,' he said, adding that a series of initiatives have been taken to further promote Yoga and Ayurveda as a healing and wellness alternative across the globe. Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, noted that the tourism economy is reaching $3 trillion in the coming years, and for that, several areas need to be activated. 'Medical and wellness tourism are strategic pillars to achieve this target. He strongly suggested that in the coming years we will have to showcase not only our competence but also our care, compassion, and delivery,' he said.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Medical Tourism India: India Aims to Lead Global Medical Tourism by 2035, ETTravelWorld
Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETTravelWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETTravelWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. India has announced an ambitious plan to become the world's leading destination for medical and wellness tourism by 2035. The announcement was made at the Heal in India 2025 Summit with the launch of the flagship report by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and KPMG India , titled 'Heal in India: Catalysing Medical and Wellness Tourism for a Healthier Global Future'.The summit was inaugurated by Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, who emphasised the critical role of building trust, enhancing care delivery, and sustaining service quality in achieving this vision. Billa stressed the need to expand beyond traditional metro cities and encourage participation from stakeholders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to make healthcare more accessible for international already attracts more than two million medical tourists annually from over 75 countries. In 2024, over 463,000 medical visas were issued, reflecting the sector's growing global importance. With its high-quality treatment at competitive prices and strong traditional medicine systems, India is poised to expand its market from USD 18.2 billion in 2025 to USD 58.2 billion by Manoj Nesari, Adviser (Ayurveda), Ministry of Ayush, pointed to India's strengths in holistic healing through Ayurveda and Yoga , which could be key differentiators for global wellness seekers . FHRAI President K. Syama Raju described Heal in India as a 'national branding opportunity,' reinforcing the image of India as a destination not just for treatment, but for complete recovery and India's Someswara Koundinya, a co-author of the report, called the document a strategic call to action. He underlined the need for digital transformation, global outreach, multilingual capacity-building, and incentivising private investment to position India as a healthcare Heal in India mission envisions stronger collaboration across tourism, health, and policy sectors. With growing international demand and robust domestic capability, India is positioning itself not just as a centre of medical excellence, but as a global leader in healing and hospitality.
Hans India
17-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Indian medical tourism market to surge from $18.2 bn in 2025 to $58.2 bn by 2035: Report
New Delhi: The Indian medical tourism market is set to surge from $18.2 billion in 2025 to $58.2 billion by 2035, according to a new report on Thursday. The report, by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in collaboration with KPMG, showcased the country's ambitious vision to become the global medical hub by 2035, rising at a CAGR of 12.3 per cent. The report also outlines a transformative national strategy that integrates India's clinical expertise with its centuries-old wellness traditions, aiming to make the country the world's most trusted destination for medical value travel (MVT). It showed that India is emerging as a cost-effective alternative offering both modern surgeries and natural recovery options like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Panchakarma. India ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index and seventh in wellness tourism, and attracts nearly 2 million international patients from 75 countries. The report showed that medical visa issuance rose to 463,725 in 2024, with the majority of patients from Bangladesh, GCC nations, and Africa. Ayurveda and traditional medicine are gaining significant global importance, said Dr. Manoj Nesari, from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while unveiling the report at the Heal in India 2025 Medical and Wellness Tourism Summit, organised by the FHRAI in the national capital. "India is very rich in traditional healing, and the government has taken a plethora of initiatives to boost this sector as an alternate economy in recent years,' he said, adding that a series of initiatives have been taken to further promote Yoga and Ayurveda as a healing and wellness alternative across the globe. Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, noted that the tourism economy is reaching $3 trillion in the coming years, and for that, several areas need to be activated. 'Medical and wellness tourism are strategic pillars to achieve this target. He strongly suggested that in the coming years we will have to showcase not only our competence but also our care, compassion, and delivery,' he said.
United News of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
PHDCCI conducts NYCC to limelight Indian culinary heritage
New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) In a significant move to highlight India's Culinary Heritage, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) conducted 'National Young Chef Competition (NYCC)' in the national capital yesterday. The event was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. Suman Billa, additional secretary and director general, Ministry of Tourism, was the chief guest and highlighted the dire need to preserve India's culinary legacy. This event is designed to showcase the finest culinary talent among final-year hospitality students across the country. He also pointed out that culinary heritage is based on cultural memory and regional techniques, the statement from the Ministry of Tourism said. Rajan Sehgal, co-chair Tourism Committee, PHDCCI, termed NYCC as a 'movement' for uniting industry, education, and youth to celebrate Indian gastronomy. Dr. Chef Manjit Gill, President of the Indian Federation of Culinary Association (IFCA) stressed that 'NYCC' is not just an event, but an opportunity to revive India's rich culinary legacy. UNI SAS AAB PRS
