Medical tourism is an example of ..... sector.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Tertiary

Option (1) Secondary — Incorrect. Secondary activities make goods; medical tourism is a service.

Option (2) Tertiary — Correct. Tertiary activities are services. Tourism is the world’s single largest tertiary activity, and when medical treatment is combined with international tourism it is called medical tourism.

Option (3) Quinary — Incorrect. Quinary work is that of the highest decision makers and policy makers, not treating visiting patients.

Option (4) Quaternary — Incorrect. Quaternary activities deal with information and research; medical tourism serves visiting patients.

NCERT (2025-26): “Tourism … Tourism is travel undertaken for purposes of recreation rather than business. It has become the world’s single largest tertiary activity in total registered jobs (250 million) and total revenue (40 per cent of the total GDP). Besides, many local persons, are employed to provide services like accommodation, meals, transport, entertainment and special shops serving the tourists. Tourism fosters the growth of infrastructure industries, retail trading, and craft industries (souvenirs). In some regions, tourism is seasonal because the vacation period is dependent on favourable weather conditions, but many regions attract visitors all the year round.”

“Medical Services for Overseas Patients in India … About 55,000 patients from U.S.A. visited India in 2005 for treatment. This is still a small number compared with the millions of surgeries performed each year in the U.S. healthcare system. India has emerged as the leading country of medical tourism in the world. World class hospitals located in metropolitan cities cater to patients all over the world. Medical tourism brings abundant benefits to developing countries like India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.…”

“Medical Tourism … When medical treatment is combined with international tourism activity, it lends itself to what is commonly known as medical tourism.”