Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (IANS): An institute dedicated to documenting traditional beauty therapies and ayurveda-based systems of healing and fitness is to open here October. It will also teach courses in ayurveda, yoga and homeopathy.

The Indian Institute of Spa Management and Research (IISRM) will be set up at a cost of Rs.15 crore. It will work in areas of traditional and natural therapies in India and abroad.

IISRM's secretary V.N Roy said the institute will work on sourcing, collating and documenting beauty traditions and traditional beauty therapies.

"We will constitute the governing and advisory council in association with the department of tourism for conducting the various programmes," Roy said.

"Courses in ayurveda, yoga, unani, Sidda, homoeo and diploma courses for traditional beauty therapists will also be conducted," he said.

Roy said that the spa industry, which is growing at 20-30 percent annually, is highly fragmented, unregulated and exists without any standardisation. Besides, there is no regulatory body to ensure that standards are maintained in the industry.

Every spa in the country does the same traditional treatments, but differently. A simple ayurvedic massage is done in a different manner at different places.

This, Roy said, was due to the lack of standards and absence of accredited training institutes, shortage of trained manpower and lack of government support.

"We expect that if standardisation is established, this industry would be the biggest beneficiary and the clients also will get a fair deal," Roy said.

The state-owned Kerala State Women's Development Corporation will also help in the new venture.