Travel And Tourism

Archives - Travel & Tourism KERALA HAS GREAT POTENTIAL IN MEDICAL TOURISM: Lankan Minister . Kerala has "immense potential" to develop and tap the opportunties in medical tourism which is expected to touch USD 4 billion by 2017 in the state, Sri Lankan Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion, Reginald Cooray, said. . "The state has immense potential to develop the scope of health tourism in the country. If Kerala is able to cater to the growing demands of health tourism, it can surely become the hub and one of the most preferred destinations in the world for prospective and potential health tourists," Cooray said after inaugurating the two-day conference and exhbition on 'Health Tourism' here. Kerala is famous for its traditional alternative treatments such as Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Yoga. It is estimated that by 2012, India could achieve a target of 200 crore dollars a year in medical tourism sector, which would constitute about 8 per cent of GDP, he said. Thus in this sector, growth rate per annum would be around 30 per cent, as per estimates, he said. With the tourism sector bouncing back after the recent downturn, opportunities in innovative concepts like Health Tourism, Ayurveda and Eco Tourism need to be explored, Cooray said. The minister also invited investors to participate in the 3-day 'Sri Lanka Expo' to be held in the island nation from March 28 next year. Chairman of Kerala Health Tourism 2011, Dr Philip Augustine, said India had the potential to attract one million health tourists a year, which would contribute USD 5 billion to the economy. The CII-McKinsey report has suggested medical tourism could bring in as much as USD 2 billion by 2012 as compared to an estimated USD 333 million by 2006-07, he said. Kerala was attracting medical tourists for health restorative treatments through a combination of Ayurveda, Acupuncture, Yoga, Herbal massages and natural therapies, Augustine, who is also Managing Director and CEO of Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Ltd, said. SUMATRA BABY RHINO AT WAY KAMBAS PARK  Excitement is rising at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary of the Way Kambas National Park in Lampung, as the female Sumatran Rhino called Ratu or “Queen” is expected to give birth to a Baby Rhino either at the end of this month or in the first week of July 2012. Ratu has been placed in a special area where she is constantly attended to by both Indonesian and international vets to ensure the safe and healthy delivery of the young rhino. “Ratu has been expecting for around 15 months now, and we hope that this will be a natural birth” said Dadan Subrata, PR of the Indonesian Rhino Institute, as reported by Kompas.  Checks on Ratu’s physical and mental health and that of the baby have been increased from one to twice a week to once in three days. On World Environment Day, 5 June 2012, Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono declared 2012 International Rhino Year to save this gentle beast from extinction worldwide Indonesia was chosen as the place for the announcement since Indonesia meticulously protects its two species, namely  the one-horned Javan Rhino  (badak Jawa) whose habitat is protected at the neighbouring Ujung Kulon National Park on Java, and the Sumatran Rhino which are found in the Way Kambas National Park and the extensive Leuser National Park. There are an estimated 200 Sumatran  rhinos left in the wild, with only about 50 Javan rhinos remaining in Ujung Kulon. Rhinos are hunted and poached for its horn, believed by people in China ro have special medicinal properties. Rhino horns therefore fetch their weight in gold. The expected birth of a rhino has brought excitement around the globe as this brings hope to the continuation of the rhino population.