Travel News April 2007

Investments in Medical Tourism

• India Tourism Dubai at Oman Travel Market exhibition
• Growth of private medical care in good health

• Health sector requires Rs 1.6 lakh cr in 10 years
• Trinity Capital Buys 6 Mln Shares Of India's Fortis Healthcare For GBP 10.3 Mln In Pre-IPO Placement
• Opportunities in Medical Tourism in India (2007)
• Hindu way of healing works

India Tourism Dubai at Oman Travel Market exhibition
The Indian government's tourism promotion office based in Dubai promotes travel to India from West Asia and regions of Africa. According to an official from India Tourism Dubai: "Oman is an important market for us. Owing to worldwide Incredible India campaign, promotional efforts by Indiatourism Dubai, historical and cultural relations between Oman and India, proximity of Oman to Indian destinations, connectivity, new budget airlines, there is big potential to further promote tourist traffic from Oman to India. Our participation in OTM would provide us an opportunity to showcase India's vast and varied tourist destinations and tourism products to the discerning visitors."
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Source: AME Info

Growth of private medical care in good health
When a patient enters a Max healthcare hospital in Delhi, a highly qualified doctor can be seen within minutes without an appointment. The price paid here is meager compared to the prices that are being offered in developed countries. However, for the average Indian, it is still a tad over-priced. On a normal basis, India's doctors are well-trained, even by international standards. But while this fact holds true, many of the country's public hospitals are poorly equipped and overcrowded. On the other hand, for the more fortunate, India's private hospitals are a blessing.

As India's middle class grows, so will the need for top-notch healthcare. There are several international investors that are backing the private healthcare sector. Warburg Pincus, the largest equity investor in India, has invested over $30 million in Max Healthcare. Another private equity fund based in the US - Chrys Capital - invested approximately $10 million in Max Healthcare in the year 2004. George Soros’ Quantum Fund, along with another investment firm, Blue Ridge, are the private healthcare sector's most recent investors had an agreement with Fortis Healthcare, wherein the latter had agreed to issue $33.3 million in shares to the two funds.

India's healthcare market, being highly fragmented, is one in which demand is by far higher than supply. India has 1.5 hospital beds for every 1000 people, as comapred with a ratio of 4.3 beds in the more advanced countries (McKinsey and Confederation of Indian Industries report). In order to meet up with the growing demand for healthcare, an investment of $22 billion to $31 billion by 2012 is required.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Source: Financial Times

Kerala emerging as hub for medical tourism
Kerala is fast becoming one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country, be it for medical purposes or otherwise. It is the one state where all a varying system of medicine is being practised. Within the last few years, the state (and the country as a whole) has seen a lot of what is known as "reproductive tourism," wherein couples travel to other countries to receive fertility treatments that are not allowed or unavailable in their own home countries.

Various leading hospital officials have predicted that by 2010, the number of tourists arriving in the State will see an increase from the present 16,000 to about 100,000 caused mainly due to prohibitive costs and the long wait for services. The Kerala Government has asked Investment Consulting Research Agency (ICRA) to come up with a report on the potential of Kerala's medical tourism.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Source: The Peninsula

Health sector requires Rs 1.6 lakh cr in 10 years
Globally, India's healthcare sector will go through a complete makeover, where quality of services and competitiveness will play a major role. The Indian healthcare market will need a major boost worth about Rs. 1.6 lakh crore by around 2016 in order to augment its bed volumes from 10.50 lakhs to 16.82 lakhs, according to a study done by Crisil research.
It is expected that the potential of India's healthcare market can touch Rs. 2.17 lakh crore by about 2011, from the present Rs. 1.25 lakh crore. From this point, it has been estimated that India's healthcare market can further move from the mentioned Rs. 2.17 lakh crore to Rs. 3.64 lakh crore by 2016. In order that India may be able to meet the projected demand and maintain the ratio of beds to potential demand, she will need around Rs 66,800 crore.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Source: The Financial Express

Trinity Capital Buys 6 Mln Shares Of India's Fortis Healthcare For GBP 10.3 Mln In Pre-IPO Placement
Trinity Capital PLC has acquired 6 million shares of Fortis Healthcare Limited (FHL) for GBP 10.3 million in a further pre-IPO placement, at a cost of INR 145 per share. The acquisition will increase Trinity's strategic shareholding in FHL to 8 million shares or 4.24%. Trinity stated that the increase in investment would give it an opportunity to develop three hotels. It has also been noted that Trikona Capital will appoint a hotel operator to manage and operate the hotels.

According to Aashish Kalra, Managing Director of Trikona Capital: "Our increased investment in Fortis has secured the option to develop three hotels alongside FHL's future hospitals, this gives us considerable opportunity to tap into the growth potential of the healthcare industry. Apart from having an option to develop hotels along hospitals and healthcare facilities, this strategic relationship will also give rise to opportunities whereby Fortis may develop hospitals in our township developments." Trinity has noted that India's fastest growing sub-sector - medical tourism - is expected to grow from $18.7 billion to $45 billion by 2012. The year 2004 saw about 80,000 patients arrive in India from all over the world.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Source: Trading Markets

Opportunities in Medical Tourism in India (2007)
The report "Opportunities in Medical Tourism in India (2007)" provides extensive research on the medical tourism sector in India. The report has been written with the intention of helping clients analyze the opportunities critical to the growth of medical tourism in India.

Some of the key findings are:

• With global revenues approximately US $20 billion in (in 2005), India's medical tourism industry is a major player in this industry due to its cost-effective treatment.
• The growth in India's medical tourism sector will serve as a source of foreign exchange.

Analyzed Facts:

• What are the emerging trends in the Medical Tourism Industry in India?
• Key regulations and policy environment in the industry.
• What is the future scenario of the Medical Tourism Industry in India?
• What opportunities exist for the Medical Tourism Industry?
• What Challenges are faced by the industry?
• Who are the Key players in Indian medical tourism industry?
• Government initiatives to promote medical tourism in India.

Monday, March 26, 2007
Source: Report Buyer

Hindu way of healing works
Ayurveda, one of the most ancient forms of medicine practised in India, has made a major comeback in the country as it vies to grab a portion of the fruitful Asian medical tourism market. Tourists are being offered traditional massages and beauty treatments. India, not unlike Thailand and Singapore, is contending for a share in the medical tourism industry, which is predicted to grow to about $2.8 billion by 2012. It's all coming together for India via luxury hospitals for medical tourists. Ayurvedic and herbal products are also being sold in wide ranges. L'oreal too recently said that it was seeking to purchase a small Indian brand to launch a global foray in ayurveda. A Lever spokesman states that : "Especially at the top end, consumers are concerned about issues such as hygiene and safety, and are more trusting of well-known companies."
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Source: The South Asian Post