Ayurvedic and medical tourism is likely to be the largest beneficiary of 2010 Commonwealth Games and may gain by around Rs 800 crores. The revenue generation for ayuvedic industry will be mainly driven through spa centres, which means pampering exterior of those tourists that stay in various hotels, beginning five star to one star.

Currently, the medical tourism market in India is estimated to be worth over $300 million with 170,000 foreign patients coming in every year. The same is  expected to grow into a $2 billion business by 2012 with advantages of low-cost medical and surgery treatment compared to the US and the EU.

According to Assocham president Venugopal N. Dhoot, the Assocham estimates are based on the assumption that over 1,800 athlete participation would be bare minimum for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in variety of sporting disciplines and tourist arrivals for the people is projected for six-seven lakh overseas visitors.

The countries of which maximum outflow of tourists would emerge include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore and Sri Lanka and over four lakh domestic tourists.

The Assocham has suggested that the ministries of health and tourism should jointly set up a separate department and training institutes to bridge the gap of skilled professionals in this field and also authorise the ayurvedic and herbal centres. Some of the major treatments in the ayurveda and spa centres include rejuvenate programmes and therapy, body immunisation and longevity treatment, body sedation, panchakarma treatment etc.