As we come closer to World Tourism Day, September 27, 2025, the world’s eyes are no longer just focused on traditional luxury holidays. Today’s travel is influenced by the demand for health, preventative healthcare and transformative experiences rather than just fleeting indulgence. It is this transformation that has rooted India so firmly on the healthcare and wellness tourism map, for it enjoys an ideal fusion of natural diversity, ancient healing systems and a fast-maturing clinical landscape.
Clinical grade wellbeing retreat like Dharana at Shillim in Maharashtra are proof positive that India can marry its cultural richness with scientific discipline to tap into a runaway global trend for travel that is health and wellbeing centric. Amidst this evolving landscape, big shots in the hospitality biz and wellness gurus are emphasising that India is grooming itself to become a global capital of medical tourism & well-being.
“Not only in China, but globally, travel is undergoing a tectonic shift from material luxury to experiences, valuing wellness and meaningful living over emotional well-being. Today’s travellers are seeking an experience more than just escape; they are in the pursuit of rejuvenation,” says Mr. Ashutosh Goyal, Director, Ananta Hotels & Resorts.
“This metamorphosis is akin to our own journey from Ananta Hotels & Resorts where hospitality isn’t a profession, it’s soulful connection. Our retreats are a celebration of space, silence, and stillness – creating a container for slow living and mindful restoration. Joining the league of contemporary travel experiences, this is the age of authenticity, sustainability and wellness,” he adds.
This is something Gavin de Souza, Managing Director – Writer Lifestyle Pvt Ltd, and CEO – Dharana at Shillim also agrees on, explaining that the definition of luxury in itself is evolving.
World Wide Shift From Holiday for Fun to Economical, Healthy Travel
Travellers around the world are no longer content to just enjoy their surroundings but seek out experiences with lifelong benefits for their health and mindset. “Travellers across the globe are seeking more than a break; they’re looking for journeys that leave a meaningful imprint on their long term health and mindset. The essence of luxury today is shifting from short-term indulgence to long-term wellbeing.
“At Dharana at Shillim, this philosophy guides everything we do. By integrating India’s ancient gift of Ayurveda with modern diagnostics and clinical integration, we help guests understand and take charge of their unique health profile with a highly personalised approach for precise and lasting outcomes. This evolution reflects a global need: travel that enriches and sustains, rather than simply entertains,” says de Souza.
“International tourists increasingly visit India not only for spiritual renewal but also for medical treatments and integrative health solutions. This reflects a shift toward destinations offering proven healing traditions with medical value tourism,” says de Souza.
Hubs of healthcare and well-being in India
India has long been synonymous globally with the realms of Yoga and Ayurveda, but that is changing rapidly. An increasing number of international tourists are not only making the pilgrimage to India for spiritual rejuvenation but also seeking high-end medical treatment and preventive health care.
A new era of meaningful travel
It is that heady mix of tradition and modernity that makes India strong. Thanks to many such retreats, the country is not only showing its age-old roots but also results that could be amenable for scientific validation. Its mix of generations-old Ayurvedic wisdom and the very latest in diagnosis and bespoke wellness experiences has chimed in with a new breed of globe-trotters who want authenticity – but also measurable health results.
In the era of meaningful travel, as celebrated in World Tourism Day 2025, India’s medical and wellness tourism is at an inflection point. Health, rejuvenation and reconnection with the natural world as a new kind of luxury – India poised to emerge at the forefront for hospitality-based welfare travel.
Also Read:
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