Medical tourism is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. It also refers pejoratively to the practice of healthcare providers travelling internationally to deliver healthcare.The concept of medical tourism is not a new one. The first recorded instance of medical tourism dates back to thousands of years when Greek pilgrims travelled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria. This territory was the sanctuary of the healing God Asklepios. Epidauria became the original travel destination for medical tourism.Tourism has the potential to bring about social and cultural development. It is also essential to take advantage of information technology to develop tourism. A well thought out plan should be in place to harness the potential of various media of communication. About The Author: Mahesh Chandra Singh teaches tourism management at Global College of Travel and Tourism, Bangalore. His several research paper have been published in different reputed journals. He also participated in many national and international seminars. Table of Contents Introduction Trade of Health Tourism Assessing the Impacts of Wellness Tourism Health Tourism and Public Health Development of Health Tourism in India Sustainable Health Tourism Promoting Medical Tourism in India Medical Tourism in Different Countries.
