India to introduce visa category for travellers seeking Ayurveda, Unani treatment, Modi says

India will very soon introduce a new visa category for foreign nationals wanting to visit the country for traditional medical treatment like Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, PM Narendra Modi announced today.

"Wellness centres based on Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha can be very popular," Modi said adding that "very soon, India is going to introduce a special (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) visa category. This will facilitate people travelling to India for AYUSH therapy," reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The Indian prime minister was speaking after inaugurating the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar in his home state Gujarat. WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus was also present during the programme.

Modi said the government would develop a network of AYUSH parks to encourage the promotion, research and manufacturing of AYUSH products across the country.

He narrated the Ayurveda success story of Rosemary Odinga, daughter of former Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Odinga. Rosemary Odinga regained her eyesight after Ayush treatment, Modi said.
Rosemary Odinga was present in the audience and the PM introduced her to the gathering which gave her a thunderous applause.

Modi said that India has witnessed an "unprecedented" growth in the production of AYUSH medicines, supplements and cosmetics. In 2014, AYUSH sector was less than three billion USD and today it has increased to more than 18 billion USD, he added.