The Embassy of India in Tunis marked the International Day of Ayurveda and Tourism 2025 with a B2B webinar Tuesday, forging connections between Indian and Tunisian stakeholders in the rapidly growing wellness tourism sector. The event, held at the Verdi Hotel in Gammarth, brought together over 120 dignitaries, industry professionals, and health experts.
The webinar aimed to promote India’s traditional wellness systems and identify concrete avenues for collaboration. It was organized in association with several key bodies, including India’s Ministry of AYUSH, the Federation of Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), and Tunisian counterparts like the Tunisian Federation of Travel and Tourism Agencies (FTAV) and the Tunisian Tourism Federation (FI2T).
In her keynote address, Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Indian Ambassador to Tunisia, emphasized the timeless relevance of the 5,000-year-old Ayurvedic system. Speaking on the theme “Ayurveda for People and Planet,” she highlighted its role in individual well-being and environmental harmony.
Ambassador Khobragade also addressed the significant potential for boosting tourist exchanges. She noted that while over 30 million Indian tourists travel abroad annually, the number visiting Tunisia remains low, citing the lack of direct flights and a visa-on-arrival facility as primary obstacles. “The Indian government is committed to addressing these challenges,” she stated, calling for enhanced collaboration through joint ventures and professional training programs.
The event was marked by the presence of Mr. Nejmeddine Lakhal, Director of the Asia Department at Tunisia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He underscored the deep link between traditional medicine and tourism, proposing a unique synergy between Indian Ayurveda and Tunisian herbal therapy to create distinctive wellness experiences for tourists. He also recommended joint research initiatives to develop natural health products using Tunisian agricultural resources.
The webinar featured specialized sessions on Ayurveda and wellness tourism, including video presentations from India’s Ministry of AYUSH and “Incredible India” tourism campaign. Leading Indian wellness centers, Sitaram Retreats and Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, gave virtual presentations, while Tunisian representatives outlined the growing potential of their domestic wellness tourism market.
The event concluded with an Ayurvedic lunch, offering attendees a practical taste of India’s holistic health traditions. The webinar successfully served as a strategic platform to foster dialogue and build networks, laying the groundwork for a stronger India-Tunisia partnership in wellness and sustainable tourism.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essafi)
