CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION TO STUDY 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION TO STUDY 1.1 Introduction 1.2 What is Medical Tourism 1.3 Medical Tourism a Current Global Scenario 1.4 Medical Tourism in India 1.5 Medical Tourism in India 1.5.1 Profile of Maharashtra 1.5.2 Infrastructure of Maharashtra 1.5.3 Maharashtra Tourism Market 1.5.4 Medical Tourism in Maharashtra 1.5.5 Some of the Key Growth Facilitators for Advantage Maharashtra 1.5.6 Cost Comparisons between other Countries, Other States, and Maharashtra 1.6 Statement of the problem 1.7 Relevance of the study 1.8 Significance of the study 1.9 Scope of the study 1.10 Concepts and Definitions of some important terms 1.11 Objectives of the study 1.12 Justification of the objectives 1.13 Hypotheses of the study 1.14 Justification of the hypotheses 1.15 Limitations 1.16 Chapter scheme 2 1.1 Introduction Being possesses the right to life and health, and to every human necessities of life including proper medical services. The change is a natural phenomenon; people cannot have a command on the cyclic order of taste, fashion, dislikes, and needs requirements and levels of expectations. This process of change transformation brings change. This change influences our decision making behavior force to welcome a change to place. For this changing trend, today, the service sector has made significance contribution to the process of economics transformation. Consumption of services such as education, healthcare, transport and communication, civil services, entertainment are considered vital. The implications of globalization, technological and economic development trends throughout the world. The world is moving very fast on its way to becoming service dominated. India is one of the major democratic nations of the world. It has achieved considerable progress after initiation of economic reforms in 1991. It has emerged as the fourth largest economy in purchasing power and it is amongst the fastest growing nation in the world. In India, service sector is the fastest growing sector in an economy. The share of services in India’s GDP at factor cost is nearly 65% during 1990-91 to 2011-12 (the GDP factor cost). At 2004-05 services grew faster than GDP for the last nine years (2003-04 to 2011- 12). Tourism is the largest service industry in India with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. Tourism is a global phenomenon of the modern society. It is a potential economic activity through worldwide. Tourism Industry is proving new career opportunities in hospitality leisure and health concepts. It is one of the niche industries as an effective instrument for generating employment earning, foreign exchange revenue and for enhancing environment, preservation rejuvenation of the tradition and culture and overall development of economy. 3 Tourism industry around the world is growing with the developing horizon contributing 9% to the world of GDP. It is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world without exporting health. It is one of the very crucial sectors for the Indian economy, India’s ranks among the top largest international truism earners and also considering the potentiality and the competitiveness to rank among the top ten global tourist destinations. WTTC predicts that globally tourism sector would contribute 96% of GDP’s and Create 300 million Job by 2020. It has created 23,454,500 jobs that are 5.5. % of total employment. This is expected to rise by 3.2 % in 2016 and in 2026 job will be available 29,629,000. Tourism in India is expected to make a direct contribution GPP at around 8.6% during 2016-20 (WTTC). The number of Foreign Tourist Arrival (FTAs) in India during 2015 increased to 8.03 million as compared to 7.68 million in 2014. India was better than the growth rate of 4.4 % for the International Tourist arrivals around the world in 2015. Tourism continues to play as imported role as a foreign exchange earner for the country. FEE from tourism industry was US$ 21.07 billion in 2015 as compared to US$ in 20.24 billion in 2014. Medical Tourism synonymous with the words like health tourism medical travel or global health care and has become a universal concept gaining importance. The word was first used by travel agencies and is today used by media, government, tourism development corporations etc. According to Connell (2006) He describes M.T. as a popular mass culture where people travel to overseas countries to obtain healthcare services facilities such as medical, dental and surgical care whilst having the opportunity to visit the tourist spots of that country. MT is not a new phenomenon but the pace by it is gaining popularity is new. MT in India is considered to be holding immense potential. Travelling of abroad for medical purposes are known as international MT. Travelling for medical purposes within the nation is known as domestic medical tourism. The business of medical travel is promising. More than 135 countries around the world are competing for a share of this global business. The present global tourism market is estimated to be approximately US $ 4 40 billion with an annual growth rate of 20 %. Asia is one of the leading regions in the world for medical tourism. Thailand is the leader among the Asian countries and India is the second largest player. MT Industry in India had earned Rs.5, 000-10,000 Corers in 2012. Now India is considered as the golden spot for treating patients mostly from the developed countries and for east. Several foreign and domestic tourists prefer Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat for see lay medical treatment with tourism. Medical tourism includes outbound, inbound and Intra-bound medical tourism. Outbound Medical Tourism: - Refers to patients travelling out of a country. Inbound Medical Tourism: - Refers patients coming into a country. Intra-bound Medical Tourism: - Refers to patients travelling within a country. It is also called as domestic medical tourism. Now, Maharashtra is also ahead in health care. Maharashtra has the best qualified medical professions in each and every specialized field and this fact has now been realized the world over regarding medical facilities with most competitive charges for treatment of certain medical problems. Maharashtra is now looking for creating a new identity by offering best health services to tourist. Maharashtra offer affordable treatment compared to other part of India and foreign countries. Tourist destinations of Western Maharashtra also have potential for medical tourism. Pune, Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur are the upcoming Medical Tourism destination in Western Maharashtra. 1.2 What is Medical Tourism? Medical Tourism is also known as Medical Travel, Health tourism, Surgical tourism, Overseas medical and Wellness tourism. In Tourism industry, medical tourism is a promising concept and growing phenomenon. Medical Tourism can be defined as provision of ‘cost effective ‘personal health care or Private medical care in association with the tourism industry for patients needing Surgical heart care and other forms of specialize treatment. Medical tourism includes outbound, inbound and Intra-bound medical tourism. 5 1.3 Medical Tourism a Current Global Scenario Medical tourism has increased significantly in the last several years with the explosion of complex communication techniques and transportation technologies. Global medical tourism industry faced tremendous competition so; healthcare, hospitality and travel providers are attempting to improve their own services to become more attractive to the customers. The global medical tourism industry was estimated at USD 10.5 billion in 2012. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.9% from 2013-2019 to reach USD 32.5 billion in 2019 (Business standard 2nd Dec. 2013). 1.4 Medical Tourism in India Tourism sector is one of the booming sectors in India and also largest foreign exchange earners. Government of India implemented 'Incredible India Campaign’ in 2002 and 'Athithi Devo Bhava' in the year 2008. The Minister of Finance Government of India took initiatives for develop and promoting medical tourism destinations in 10th 5 year plan. Further 12th 5 year plan (2007-2012) clearly emphasized the importance of sustainable development and growth of medical tourism to India along with promoting India as a world class quality and high-tech healing destination providing low cost medical surgeries and treatment with less waiting time. The 12th plan focuses on providing universal healthcare, strengthens healthcare infrastructure, promoting R and D and enacting strong regulations for the healthcare sector. The NITI Aayog has allocated USD 55 billion under the 12th 5 year plan. Superior quality healthcare, coupled with low treatment costs in comparison to other countries, is benefiting Indian medical tourism which has, in turn, enhanced the prospects of the Indian Healthcare Market. Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Allopathy and other traditional methods of treatment are major service offerings that attract medical tourists from European Nations and the Middle East to India. According in industry estimates, the size of the medical tourism industry stands at Rs.1, 200 - 1,500 crores. Currently Indian Healthcare Market is at Rs.15 billion and growing at over 30% every year. 6 1.5 Medical Tourism in Maharashtra 1.5.1 PROFILE OF MAHARASHTRA Maharashtra is the third largest state in the country and populous state with a population of 96.75 million. It is also economically developed state. Maharashtra has the highest level of urbanization among major states in India 43% of the population residing in urban areas. The density of population is 314 persons per square kilometer. It has largest industrial economies in the country. Maharashtra is abounds in numerous tourist attractions like ancient cave temples, forests and wildlife, unique hill stations, beaches, ancient forts and monuments, pilgrimage centers, tradition of festivals.