Selangor ramps up bid to be top medical tourism hub
KLANG: Selangor is moving at top speed to strengthen its position as a regional medical tourism hub.
State government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said intense promotions have been carried out for the past two years to push Selangor's 42 private hospitals and the world-class health services available here.
'Currently, Selangor is number three after Penang and Melaka in the medical tourism hierarchy. '
According to Ng, Selangor was targeting medical tourists from Indonesia as Malaysia was their destination of choice for second opinions, health screening, cosmetic surgery as well as treatment and surgeries for various ailments.
He said affluent Indonesians medical tourists do not usually travel alone, but would bring their families, caregivers and domestic helpers.
'So, while seeking treatment and medical consultation, they also stay in top hotels, visit tourist attractions as well as carry out extensive shopping.
'All these activities are a boon for the state's tourism industry.'
Given that medical tourists from Jakarta and Medan prefer going to Penang and Melaka due to the close travel proximity, Ng said in addition to wooing them, Selangor was also exploring other locations in Indonesia.
'We teamed-up with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council and have gone to promote Selangor as a medical tourism hub in Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Makassar.
'We had booths to showcase our private hospitals, the facilities and expertise they offer.'
He added that in pursuit of Indonesian medical tourists, Selangor has even conceptualised a campaign with its own theme song dubbed Liburan Sehat Ya Di Selangor Aja! (Enjoy a Healthy Vacation in Selangor!) in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026.
He said this was also a good time to woo Indonesian medical tourists who frequent Singapore but are finding it too expensive now due to the strength of the republic's currency.
He added that due to intense promotions, medical tourists to Selangor has increased by more than 10% in the first six months of this year.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said medical tourists came to Malaysia mainly for fertility, gastroenterology and oncology treatments.
He added that roughly about 80% came for treatment while the rest came for health screening with the bulk of the medical tourists coming from Indonesia, China and India.
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