KUALA LUMPUR, 6 December 2025 – Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) have formalised a landmark partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in Kuala Lumpur, paving the way for a strengthened national push in the global medical tourism market ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) and the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026).

The MOC sets a strategic framework for both agencies to elevate Malaysia’s branding as a premier medical and wellness destination. It outlines coordinated promotional activities, deeper industry collaboration, and enhanced market outreach to attract high-value healthcare travellers.

These efforts support VM2026’s national target of welcoming 47 million international visitors, with medical tourism positioned as a key growth driver.

Tourism Malaysia Director General, Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, said the partnership reflects Malaysia’s commitment to offering world-class tourism experiences paired with exceptional healthcare services.

“As we approach Visit Malaysia 2026, the medical tourism segment will play a vital role in attracting quality visitors and boosting tourism receipts. We are confident that this partnership with MHTC will generate meaningful growth opportunities and strengthen Malaysia’s position on the global stage,” he said.

MHTC CEO, Mr. Suriaghandi Suppiah, described the collaboration as an important step toward enhancing Malaysia’s appeal among global healthcare travellers.

“Malaysia Healthcare is proud to partner with Tourism Malaysia to promote the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026.

“This MOC is designed to strengthen joint promotional activities and ensure a seamless experience for healthcare travellers. Together, we aim to position Malaysia as a safe, reliable, and preferred destination for medical and wellness treatments,” he said.

Under the agreement, both agencies will coordinate targeted promotional campaigns across priority markets, including ASEAN, South Asia (Bangladesh and Sri Lanka), East Asia (China), the Middle East, and Africa—regions identified for strong demand in medical and wellness travel.

Joint marketing efforts, trade engagements, and data-sharing initiatives will enable the development of integrated healthcare travel packages and reinforce Malaysia’s presence in these markets.

The partnership is expected to boost global visibility, enhance product offerings, and provide seamless travel experiences for higher-spending international visitors.

Medical tourism continues to be one of Malaysia’s most influential niche segments, contributing to longer stays, higher per-visitor spending, and broader economic benefits across hospitality, retail, transportation, and wellness sectors.

The country’s reputation for internationally accredited hospitals, multilingual medical professionals, competitive treatment pricing, and renowned hospitality has solidified its standing as a preferred destination for quality healthcare abroad.

The Tourism Malaysia–MHTC collaboration signifies a unified national effort to maximise the potential of the medical tourism sector as the country prepares to welcome millions of visitors in 2026, strengthening Malaysia’s global tourism competitiveness and supporting sustainable economic growth.