Comments

• 

  Anil August 23, 2010 at 6:10pm

  I was in India past Feburary, and talked to a lot of people about the state of the economy. Th financial meltdown did not impact the indian financial institutions. The economy remained robust; only impact was in the outsourced IT sector. Hotels in India are as such heavily taxed, so their boom bust cycles are based on business and high end tourist sector. The backpacker hotels remain insulated.
• 

  Ed Wetschler August 23, 2010 at 6:01pm

  Indian Travel Industry Makes a Comeback
  
  eTurboNews: "While the US is still debating whether it is a "V" or "W" shaped economic recovery from the Great Recession, the Indian hotel industry has staged a recovery as steep as the decline it witnessed in 2009."
  
  Moreover, hotels are getting rave reviews and developers are planning to create additional premium hotels.
  
  But will the boom / comeback last?
• 

  Anil August 18, 2010 at 4:32pm

  I talked to one person connected to this vertical (Medical Tourism) and his view is that majority of folks on medical tourism (and there are a few) go to relax in the beaches of Goa, even when their immune system is not fully recovered from post-operation. This leads to complications, as post recovery is not in a sterile controlled environment.
• 

  Ed Wetschler August 18, 2010 at 4:19pm

  Mariellen, the Toronto Star reports that even Indian doctors acknowledge that the antibiotic-resistant bacteria are very much for real. However, the Indian physicians say it wasn't their fault, but that of the West's doctors, because our docs prescribe too many antibiotics. (All Greek to me; I was a history major.)
  
  Sam, Indian hospitals report no slowdown in medical tourism since that Lancet report came out. But could that be because people were already booked and committed -- and that they will start backing out now?
• 

  Anil August 16, 2010 at 11:34pm

  Marieellen - Good to know will forward your pointers to others, and will read your travel blog.
• 

  Mariellen Ward August 16, 2010 at 6:32pm

  Anil, I run small group tours to India: http://breathedreamgo.com/custom-tours/
• 

  Mariellen Ward August 16, 2010 at 6:29pm

  Sam, Call me crazy, but I am cynical abut this "superbug" thing. I think it is probably something over-hyped and sensationalized to keep people from spending their medical money in India, Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if a British or American medical lobby was behind it.
  
  Before I went to India the first time, I went to a travel clinic and they really tried to instill fear into me about traveling in India. I have traveled by myself for more than a year in India altogether with very few illnesses or problems and I have received excellent health care in clean, modern, efficient, well-run and superbly staffed health care clinics.
• 

  Mariellen Ward August 16, 2010 at 6:24pm

  Hi Anil, I publish an India travel blog with a lot of pointers about traveling in India at http://breathedreamgo.com/
  
  I was in Delhi in April and the construction for the games was rampant! I think it will be a bit crazy in Delhi during the games, I would avoid it. Also, the city has an acute shortage of hotel rooms -- and especially reasonably priced, quality hotel rooms.
• 

  Sam Scribe August 16, 2010 at 5:03pm

  I have friends who've had surgical procedures overseas, to both good and bad effect. Now Lancet, the British medical magazine, has reported that a new superbug that's resistant to antibiotics originated in India, so it might be a bad idea of British patients to visit India for surgery. I wonder how much this will affect medical tourism.
• 

  Anil July 29, 2010 at 11:34pm

  What impact is anticipated for tourism and tourists heading to India during the Commonwealth games in New Delhi starting from Oct 3-14 ?
  
  I know that this year Diwali is later in November. I need to advise some folks on a 15 day trip of the Triangle and a bit more. Are there people interested in specific pointers for non-backpack solo travelers ?