Prominent exponents of the ancient treatment system of Tamil Nadu, Siddha system, are of the view that a renewed effort from the government, with participation from the state tourism development corporation, will largely help in popularizing the centuries old alternative therapy in the national and international spectrum and to get recognition for its incontestable efficacy.
When the ancient ayurvedic remedies attract a lot of domestic and foreign tourists and they turn Kerala into a global health tourism destination, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) is reluctant to focus on the state’s own system, Siddha, into the health packages being provided to the holidayers and international tourists, they allege.
If traditional curing of ailments through Siddha becomes a component of the tourist packages, it will make the state into a destination for medical tourism or health tourism.
Through tourism health packages, the system of Siddha can be popularized nationally and internationally as well as the state can increase its revenue from the tourism sector. In order to achieve this goal, the tourism development corporation must set up more wellness centres in major tourist places and provide all the healing properties of the Ayush systems such as Panchakarma treatment of Ayurveda and Varma therapies of Siddha as health packages to the tourists. This will undoubtedly help the growth of the tourism market in Tamil Nadu, observe the exponents.
Tamil Nadu has emerged as a tourist destination of temple towns, heritage sites & architecture, hill stations and waterfalls, but it is not witnessing a long stay back period of tourists at present. If a rejuvenation therapy through Siddha is promised, the state will get lot of tourists from other countries and also from north India to practice yoga and do Varma therapy which includes massage. Considering the growing fascination for massages, TTDC can establish as many numbers of wellness centres and spas in major destinations in order to woo more tourists.
Commenting on the idea of health tourism, Dr Arul Amuthan, Siddha professor at the Manipal Institute of Higher Education in Udupi, said the government can give good medical packages to the tourists combined with the Varma therapy component of the Siddha system to the patients of other countries. Likewise, the tourism development corporation should convert their tourism packages into health tourism or medical tourism packages by providing rejuvenation therapy through Siddha system. This will impact in two ways to the state, on one side it will help for earning revenue to the state and on the other side, it will foster the ancient healing system of Tamil Nadu to grow into national and international levels.
According to Dr. Amuthan, the TTDC can give two types of packages, tourist packages and medical packages combined with leisure activities, fun and fitness. Those who prefer only the tourist packages can also be given a package for rejuvenation and fitness. Varm therapy of Siddha system is used to treat patients suffering from paralysis, nervous disorder, spondylititis and other conditions. TTDC can market Siddha as part of the health tourism which has immense scope in Tami Nadu.
Government owned hospitals and educational institutions have adequate facilities for setting up wellness centres. This will also provide job opportunities for the Siddha graduates and Ayush pharmacists and masseurs.