Revolution in transport and the popularity of the health tourism model
 

A rapid increase in the use of the automobile throughout the industrial world and the fast expansion of the aircraft-fleets in those countries resulted in unbelievably low airfares. The worldwide availability of rental cars, and the inter-connection between all the sectors of the travel and tourism industry through the incorporation of modern communication systems, has improved the transportation facilities.

Tour packages are now being designed keeping in mind the requirements of the individual tourist. A trend that began in the West is being increasingly assimilated by the tourism promoters in the East and particularly in countries like India. While countries like Switzerland have gained much through health tourism, states like Kerala are not lagging behind. In Kerala ayurveda treatment packages were an instant hit right from its inception.

When considering the tourism packages on offer, the health tourism packages are finding more takers over other cultural and related tour packages. Even though names like dental tourism, medical tourism, health tourism and ayurveda tourism are hogging the headlines, only ayurveda tourism is having many takers. The popularity of ayurveda is due to the fact that there is no side effect, even though the treatment plans are rather costly. Most of the ayurvedic medicinal potions are prepared and used on the spot.

While it takes more than 10 years to properly develop and test a drug according to the modern systems of medicine, in ayurveda, the various medicinal proportions has been tested to be effective since time immemorial. It is difficult to properly document as to when this form of health science actually started. Due to the popularity of the ‘health tourism’ model, more and more people are now entering into this lucrative sector. The government has also started many ayurveda colleges to meet the demand for ayurveda treatment specialists. When analyzing the preferences of the international tourists arriving through the chartered flights, the ‘ayurveda health tourism’ option has a large number of adherents.

Really, only ayurveda tourism tourism is popular and all the other sorts of eco-tourism aren't having any takers? That amazing and curious because you can enjoy eco-tourism without going the ayurvedic route. I've been on great nature hikes that were organized in British Columbia, Canada that seemed very, very popular and I think that most North American tourists would be quite hard pressed to even find an ayurvedic tourist package. I wonder where you're getting your information? I don't know, it seems to me that you can have a wonderful, healthful holiday by just finding a nice retreat without going the ayurvedic route. For example whistler accommodations would get a person out of the city and in a relaxed healthful setting.