The government’s sudden interest in medical tourism is driven by a dramatic fall in tourism to the country because of the effects of the global recession and the swine flu epidemic. In August, the latest month where figures are available, the number of foreign visitors dropped by 31.8 percent compared with 2008, according to a recent government report. With income of $3.36 billion in 2008, tourism was the country’s third-largest source of foreign currency. Trying to make-up the lost $ billion with medical tourism is hugely optimistic, as most medical visits to the country are short-stay cosmetic surgery.

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