Hotel group’s investment in integrated wellness gains momentum as India seeks to attract longer-stay international visitors through preventive healthcare and traditional therapies
India’s largest hospitality group, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), is strengthening its position in the international wellness tourism market as demand grows for travel experiences combining preventive healthcare, personalised wellness programmes and luxury accommodation. Speaking at the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2026, IHCL Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal identified wellness tourism as a major opportunity for India to attract international visitors seeking longer, health-focused stays.
The strategy is already taking shape through IHCL’s investment in Atmantan, an established Indian wellness hospitality brand. In early 2026, the hotel group agreed to acquire a 51 percent stake in the company behind Atmantan, providing a platform for expansion into a segment that increasingly combines traditional wellness practices with medical assessments, nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle management.
Chhatwal highlighted India’s traditions of Ayurveda and yoga, alongside its growing hospitality infrastructure and relatively long average stays by international visitors. According to figures he cited, foreign tourists spend approximately 17 days in India on average, compared with considerably shorter visits in several competing destinations. Although this does not specifically measure wellness travellers, longer stays could provide an advantage for resorts offering structured programmes extending over several days or weeks.
Atmantan provides a platform for expansion
Atmantan’s flagship wellness resort is located near Mulshi, approximately 50 kilometres from Pune in Maharashtra. Set across roughly 36 acres of landscaped grounds, the property offers 97 rooms and combines accommodation with personalised wellness programmes, nutritional guidance, physical activity and selected health assessments.
The resort has developed an international clientele. According to company information released in 2026, it has welcomed guests from more than 50 countries, while repeat visits and recommendations account for over 70 percent of its business. These figures suggest an established international customer base, although detailed information on guest volumes and source markets has not been disclosed.
IHCL intends to use the Atmantan brand to expand its presence in the wellness sector beyond the existing resort. Hyderabad has been identified among the locations under consideration for further development, while the company has outlined broader ambitions for the brand.
The investment reflects a shift in the luxury hospitality market. Rather than treating spas and relaxation facilities as supplementary hotel services, operators are increasingly developing properties where wellness programmes form the central reason for travel.
At the Mumbai Conclave, Chhatwal emphasised a move away from narrowly defined detoxification and restrictive diet programmes towards integrated approaches incorporating nutrition, sleep, exercise and individual health assessments. Such services may appeal to travellers interested in preventive health and lifestyle improvement, although their medical value depends on the specific interventions and the evidence supporting them.
Government initiatives support international health travel
IHCL’s expansion comes as India seeks to strengthen its position in the wider international health tourism market.
The government has introduced dedicated AYUSH visa categories to facilitate travel by foreign visitors seeking treatments associated with Ayurveda, yoga, Unani, Siddha and other recognised traditional systems. These measures complement initiatives aimed at developing healthcare infrastructure, improving service standards and promoting India as a destination for medical and wellness travel.
For international visitors, India offers a combination of established medical facilities, traditional wellness systems and a broad hospitality sector. Destinations such as Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand have developed different forms of wellness tourism, ranging from Ayurveda-focused retreats to yoga programmes and medically supervised lifestyle services.
However, the distinction between conventional wellness activities and clinical healthcare remains important. Traditional practices and preventive wellness programmes vary in their scientific evidence, and claims concerning disease prevention, treatment outcomes or long-term health improvements require appropriate substantiation.
India’s potential advantage lies not only in its established wellness traditions but also in the possibility of combining them with internationally accessible hospitality and appropriately regulated healthcare services.
For IHCL, Atmantan represents an opportunity to develop a specialised hospitality business serving both domestic customers and international travellers. Its expansion could also strengthen India’s position in a market where visitors increasingly seek structured health-oriented experiences rather than conventional resort holidays.
The extent to which this strategy attracts additional foreign visitors will depend on service quality, international marketing, professional standards and the ability to demonstrate meaningful benefits beyond the luxury wellness experience.
Image Credit: © AI generated illustration
