Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 29 (IANS): A Russian delegation, led by the deputy health minister, is arriving in the state capital to have a first-hand experience of Ayurveda so that it can be promoted in their country.

The six-member delegation, led by Minister Igor Kagramanyan and Sergei Kalashnikov, chairman of the Russian parliamentary committee on health, is arriving here Nov 2 and would be here for a week.

It is visiting under the aegis of NGO Ayurveda Russia-India Association to have talks with Kerala health and tourism ministers and officials.

The NGO's representative M.R. Narayanan told IANS that the delegation would have an exposure to Ayurveda at his Poovar Island resort near Kovalam here. They would undergo a week-long Ayurveda rejuvenation programme at the resort.

"The department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, of the central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is coordinating the visit. They will be taking care of the promotion of Ayurveda at the government level between the two countries," said Narayanan.

He also said that the biggest beneficiary of meeting between representatives from the two countries would be the numerous resorts that offer Ayurveda packages in the state for Russian tourists.

"Once this gets the approval, insurance companies in Russia would reimburse Ayurveda packages for them," said Narayanan.

The visiting delegation is also expected to discuss about having short courses on Ayurveda at Russian universities.