Kerala’s Ayurveda and wellness have takers globally

KOCHI: A 3-day virtual expo concluded on Saturday ‘Health, Beauty & Wellness 2021’ on Kerala’s Ayurveda,

Ayush

, wellness and nutraceutical sectors in Kerala attracts thousands of visitors from various corners of the globe including the UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden, South Africa, Nigeria, Oman, Hong Kong, Oman and Indonesia. It was the first edition of the event which saw thirty-two exhibitors who provided an interface for Ayurveda treatment centres, medicines, natural beauty and wellness producers and various wellness solution providers with tour operators and buyers from across the world.

The Kerala products offered ranged from seaweed extracts to Panchakarma and jackfruit juice to natural cosmetics, said

Joseph Kuriakose

, Director,

Cruz Expos

, the organizer of the event. Exhibitors included Bipha which is into Ayurvedic products since 1929; Kochi-based Bodina Naturals, a nutraceutical manufacturer including various multi-vitamin extracts from seaweed; herbal cosmetic and FMCG major

Nutriloids

, Ayurvedic wellness provider Human Wellness; Nata Nutrico which produces and markets products including jackfruit and tender coconut juices, Nata Life coco dietary food; apple cider and coconut vinegar among others.

In addition to these, Kerala Industrial Pavilion featured 20

SME

units from the state, sponsored by the Department of Industries & Commerce,

Govt

of Kerala along with three units from the SC/ST sector. Besides, the Coconut Development Board had also put up a CDB pavilion showcasing coconut-based product suppliers from this sector.

"As markets are slowly re-opening across the country after businesses have been affected due to Covid-19, it made sense to prepare for the upcoming challenges using the latest technologies,” Kuriakose said. “Though being held virtually, the show provided all the business networking opportunities available as in a physical expo. And by being online, it was accessible from anywhere in the world," he added. According to him, the virtual model was cost-effective in these challenging times as it saves on travel, boarding and lodging and other logistic expenses.

Joseph Kuriakose also said the event was an amalgamation of breakthrough technologies and a launch pad for new products and hands-on demonstrations. "Wellness tourism has the potential of being the gamechanger for the growth of the Indian tourism industry. In a consistently growing economy where the population is recovering from a pandemic jolt, people are facing a fast-changing life, wellness tourism here becomes even more important as it rejuvenates the body, mind and soul by detoxification provided by various healthcare therapies. Kerala is perceived as one of the true spiritual homes of the modern wellness movement globally with its ancient practices of Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, naturopathy, panchakarma and holistic health are among experiences sought by wellness travellers in India," he said.