The medical profession and the healthcare industry in Kerala is growing in leaps and bounds. Dentistry, cardiac sciences, oncology, ophthalmology, nursing and biotechnology are major growth fields. With the growth of medical education, there has been an impressive increase in the number of hospitals and diagnostic centers in the state. Medical tourism to the state is a major revenue earner. Tourists from all over the world, especially where the costs of surgical procedures and post-operative care are very high come here for treatment.

Kerala has a large population of non-residents. These non-resident Keralites are geographically dispersed all over the globe. With the advancement of healthcare industry in the state, these non-residents have realized a profitable way to spend their vacations. Whether it is preventive medicine or for treatment purposes, these globetrotting non-residents visit Kerala regularly.

While in Kerala, most of these people prefer to stay in a home of their own. Their native places are often inaccessible and the comfort of homes in cities is not to be overlooked. Apartment builders nowadays provide services like short-term lease of apartments for non-resident owners. This makes apartments a source of income too. For these many non-residents prefer having a Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi apartment as their holiday home.

Foreign medical tourists are also opting for the privilege of living in private apartments during their stay in Kerala. the apartments that are not occupied by the non-resident keralaite are often leased out to such tourist for a short period.

These arrangements suit both the owners of the apartments as well as the tenants. The idea has caught on and more and more Keralites are buying apartments as holiday homes or for the sole purpose of renting.