MHTC expects 20,000 medical tourists from India as major market

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NEW DELHI: The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) sees India as a major market to promote its medical services as the Indian economy gets more linked with Southeast Asia.

MHTC, a government-linked industry body, has endorsed 72 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia to promote medical tourism, a growing travel segment that brings together various stakeholders from healthcare and tourism sectors.

“India offers us new growth prospects.

“We are looking for collaboration with players in the medical tourism industry such as travel agencies, insurance companies, nursing homes, private investment and those working in traditional and complementary treatment,” MHTC senior manager Wong Toon Keng told ‘Travel News Alliance’, an independent travel news service provider.

He said Malaysia was an affordable option for quality healthcare for Indians who travel abroad for treatment.

“In Malaysia we offer treatment at the same price to both foreigners and citizens.

“With our presence at this event we want to showcase our facilities to India.

“Earlier we participated in two promotion events organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) in Pune and Kochi to raise awareness,” said Wong.

MHTC officials visited renowned private hospitals in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur during their trips to India.

Wong said as overseas patients were normally accompanied by family members and relatives, it was easy to find affordable good quality accommodation in Malaysia.

According to MHTC, 18,000 medical tourists from India sought treatment in Malaysia last year.

In the first six months of this year, Malaysia recorded 12,000 Indian medical tourists and the number was expected to exceed 20,000 for last year.

Malaysia is a popular Southeast Asian holiday destination for Indians, with more than 693,000 Indian tourists traveling to the country last year.

Malaysia Airlines in September increased its flight frequency to India from 40 to 50 per week and planned to grow this number to 70 by the end of 2013.

Budget carrier, AirAsia, also provides convenient links between Kuala Lumpur and many Indian cities.

Business links between Malaysia, a key member of Asean, and India has grown significantly over the last few years.

Hence, MHTC planned to increase promotional activities in India as the country offered huge growth prospects, he added. — Bernama