KOCHI:
After making inroads in the wellness markets of Germany and Russia, Kerala’s famed Ayurveda is now making its presence felt in the Middle East, wooing travellers from countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE in large numbers with a promise to offer the traditional holistic system of healing in a most authentic manner.
The sellers representing Ayurvedic hospitals and resorts at the ongoing Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2018, the biggest tourism conclave in the country, said they have been witnessing a huge rise in the number of tourists from the Middle East during the last five years.
Baby Mathew, Chairman, Somatheeram Ayurveda Group and KTM President, said in the last five years there has been around 30 percent increase in the arrival of tourists from the Middle East. “It happened as a result of massive campaigns that we carried out in the Middle East countries. Prior to that, there were no such campaigns.”
“We organized wellness exhibitions in the Arabian Travel Mart five years ago. Since then, there has been encouraging results,” he said adding that the guests from Arabian countries are now coming to Kerala for long term treatments.
“Today Aurveda thrives in Germany and Russia owing to the strenuous efforts we undertook in this regard. No doubt, in the coming days, Middle East is also going to follow their footsteps,” he added.
Dr Kiran B Nair, Managing Director, Vaidya Healthcare, Perumbavoor said “It shows that things are definitely on the brighter side. And most of them approach the Ayurvedic physicians as their family doctors,” he observed.
