Page 30 - NIS ENGLISH 16-31 JAN 2022

Cover Story
Cover Story Tourism Development

Rs 2.10 lakh crore in 2019. Places with greater
health infrastructure will have better tourism
opportunities. Hospitality and hospitalization
will work in tandem.
Today, India is one of the three major
countries in the world when it comes to
health tourism. The primary goal of health-
wellness tourism is to treat sickness and
promote wellness. Ayurveda and traditional
medicine are their most important pillars. The
expansion of the entire ecosystem associated INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
with Ayurveda is also boosting tourism-related THROUGH THE PRASHAD SCHEME
health and wellbeing in the country. Simply
envisioning India's uniqueness, such as PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
detoxing in Kerala's lush green surroundings, Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive)
practicing yoga on the banks of a lovely is a nationwide mission started by the
river amidst gusts of wind on a mountain in Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15. This
Uttarakhand, or going through the lush green program is entirely sponsored by the
forest of the Northeast, creates a different union government.
emotion. The program aims to identify and
When it comes to health and wellness develop pilgrimage sites across the
tourism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, country in order to improve the religious
"If your life is causing you stress, now is the tourist experience. Its main goal is to
give a comprehensive religious tourist
moment to embrace India's ageless culture. experience as well as prioritize and long-
Come to India whenever you want to heal your term development of pilgrimage sites.
body or your mind." This is used to develop infrastructure
To boost tourism in this region, India such as roads, rail, journey terminals,
established the National AYUSH Mission. mobile-Internet-hot-spot access,
The World Health Organization's Traditional bathrooms, artisan markets, ATMs, and
Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 aligns with money exchange counters.
India's policy on Ayurveda and other Indian
systems of medicine. In addition, the World
Health Organization has announced the
establishment of a Global Center for Traditional
Medicine in India. Students from all over the
world are already flocking to India to study
Ayurveda and its medical system.
However, the Covid pandemic has had a
significant influence on the tourism industry. It sites in 27
But, as vaccination rates have gone up, 57
domestic and international tourists have begun covers States/Union
to flock to the country. In its immunization Territories
drive, India has placed a high priority on states
that are involved in the tourism industry. The As per the data available till January
Government of India prioritized vaccination for 2021, work has been started on 36
this sector, and as a result, the tourism industry projects worth about Rs 1160 crore in
appears to be recovering from the worst of 24 states.
the epidemic's effects. Cleanliness and the

28 New India Samachar January 16-31, 2022