The Indian Institute of Spa Management and Research (IISRM), working in conjunction with Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC), are opening joint courses to effectively train and promote health tourism in India and abroad.

The Indian spa industry is estimated to be growing at a rate of 20-30 per cent annually, but does not currently offer an educational qualification for spa therapists or spa professionals.

IISRM, a division of the Centre for Natural Beauty Therapies (CNBT) and NGO working in areas of traditional and natural therapies from India and from abroad, will start PG courses in ayurveda, yoga, unani, sidha and homoeopathy, with graduate and diploma courses for graduates to start by the end of October.

KSWDC seeks to bring women out of binding normative structures by making them active participators in societal development and progress.

“We will constitute the governing advisory councils, boards and committees in association with the department of tourism to conduct various programmes while promoting Indian spa management besides promoting health tourism,” said V N Roy, IISRM secretary. “KSWDC will also join hands with us for joint certification.”