Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader on Saturday said his department would urge the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide visa-on-arrival facility at the Mangalore International Airport.
Such a move will not only boost the tourism sector in coastal Karnataka and draw tourists to places around Mangaluru and Udupi, but will also give an impetus to the health sector, Mr. Khader said.
Speaking after inaugurating the Yenepoya Ayush Centre here, Mr. Khader said health tourism is one of the major sectors that has potential to attract many tourists to this region of Karnataka. The region can leverage its potential in the healthcare sector — Ayurveda as well as allopathy — to attract tourists, he said, adding that visa on arrival would be of great help in this regard.
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At the same time, healthcare institutions in the two districts should augment their infrastructure to suit the requirement of foreign tourists. The Minister said he would soon hold discussions with heads of such institutions. As Mangaluru is tipped to be developed as a smart city, it would be prudent for the Union government to develop it as a smart health city, Mr. Khader said.
Speaking on the occasion, Farhad Yenepoya, director of Yenepoya Group, said the group, having made a name in quality healthcare in the region, wanted to take it to the next level by entering the field of alternative medicine. The Ayush centre is the precursor to establish Yenepoya Ayurveda College and Hospital and the Yenepoya Homoeopathy College and Hospital at Deralakatte, Mr. Farhad said.