Goa is drawing up plans to become a prime ayurveda and wellness tourism hub on the strength of a slew of initiatives, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said while inaugurating the curtain raiser of the 9^th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) & Arogya Expo, to be held from December 8 to 11.

The state is eager to harness the benefits of Ayush visa, announced by the Prime Minister recently, to develop tourism, health and wellness centres and make Goa as the best in health tourism sector, the Chief Minister said.

Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, AYUSH, was the chief guest at the function, where Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism, and Vishwajit P Rane, Goa Minister of Health, were also present.

The four-day event, supported by the Central and state governments and the Union Ministry of AYUSH, will witness an assemblage of about 5000 Ayurveda stakeholders — industry leaders, practitioners, traditional healers, educationists, students, drug manufacturers, growers of medicinal plants and marketing strategists — from across the world.

‘Ayurveda for One Health’ is the focal theme of the event this year at Kala Academy, being organised by World Ayurveda Foundation, an initiative of Vijnana Bharati.

Dr Sawant said about 41 such health and wellness centres will be set up where services of Ayush doctors will be available. “Two 50-beds Ayush hospitals under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) scheme will be set up soon.  An Ayush hospital will be inaugurated on December 8 at Dhargal in Pernem taluk,” he said.