Kerala should transform itself into a global centre for Ayurveda treatment, going beyond positioning the traditional wellness system merely as a tourism product, Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas said.
Inaugurating the First International Ayurveda –Wellness Summit, Riyas said Kerala is making concerted efforts to firmly establish its Ayurveda sector as a significant player in the state’s tourism industry, at the international level. He also pointed out that the Ayurveda and yoga sectors are witnessing rapid growth, accompanied by an equally increasing responsibility.
The event was jointly organised by the State Tourism Department and the Ayurveda Promotion Society.
Riyas emphasised that Ayurveda must grow beyond being promoted as a tourism product. Progress should be driven by international cooperation, knowledge exchange and long-term partnerships. Ayurveda should also evolve into a research-oriented and public benefit-focused sector. Along with strict enforcement of treatment standards, there must be inclusive and sustainable practices, he added.
Delivering the keynote address, Tourism Secretary K. Biju said Ayurveda must function within the framework of a comprehensive and credible policy. It is a sector that provides employment to a large skilled workforce. He emphasised the need to ensure research, clinical trials, data-driven services and strict standards.
Tourism Director Sikha Surendran said the credibility of Ayurveda medicines is a major investment advantage for Kerala. The ingredients for medicines are mostly sourced from the Western Ghats, a UNESCO-recognised region. The state has a clear policy for wellness tourism, and the government will actively consider the consolidated recommendations emerging from the summit, she noted.
Although modern systems of medicine have expanded widely, the continued acceptance and relevance of Ayurveda underline the importance of this sector, said Kozhikode Mayor O. Sadashivan, who presided over the function. He added that by embracing modern changes, new possibilities could be effectively harnessed within Ayurveda.
Organising Committee Chairman Sajeev Kurup; Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala Managing Trustee P. Madhavan Kutty Warrier; former KTM Society President Baby Mathew Somatheeram; Malabar Chamber of Commerce President Nithyananda Kamath; Calicut Chamber of Commerce President AP Abdullakkutty; and Malabar Tourism Society President Jihad Hussain were among those present.
Lifetime achievement awards for contributions to Ayurveda tourism were presented to tourism industry leaders Jose Dominic, Dhananjayan K. Machinkal, K. V. Ramesh, and Poly Mathew Somatheeram (posthumously).
More than 120 foreign delegates from 34 countries, 50 vloggers from within and outside the country, and over 100 sellers from across the state are participating in the two-day summit.
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