India to get national spa qualifications
Published
17th Oct 2013
Image courtesy of SwaSwara
The recently formed Indian Institute of Spa Management and Research (IISRM) is to join forces with the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) to implement country-wide regulations for the spa and wellness industry, raise standards across the sector and introduce national qualifications for spa and beauty therapists.
The Indian spa and wellness industry grew by 20% between 2010 and 2011, to a value of £6.9billion (US$11.1bn), and is – with a forecast continued expansion of 18-20% a year – expected to be an £11bn (US$18bn) a year industry by 2014. However, the industry remains largely unregulated, with no unified accreditation for therapists and no, legally binding, nationwide spa and wellness directives.
Courses offered by the IISRM, a division of the non-governmental organisation Centre for Natural Beauty Therapies, will include yoga, Ayurveda, Siddha, homeopathy and beauty therapy and begin at the end of this month.
IISRM secretary V N Roy said: “We will constitute the governing and advisory council in association with the Ministry of Tourism; conducting various programmes and promoting Indian spa management and health tourism. The KSWDC will also join hands with us for joint certifications."
