MHTC Boosts Regional Reach at ASTINDO Travel Fair

3 November 2025

MEDAN, Indonesia: The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) continues to strengthen its regional presence by participating in the ASTINDO Travel Fair (ATF) 2025, held in Medan, Indonesia.

As one of the largest tourism exhibitions in the country, the event brings together travel agents, airlines, hotels, medical institutions, and tourism partners under one roof to showcase their offerings and foster cross-border collaboration.

As part of the Malaysia Healthcare Pavilion, MHTC leads a delegation of nine world-renowned Malaysian hospitals, further reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a trusted global destination for quality medical care and wellness.

Participating hospitals include two finalists of MHTC’s Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital (FMTH) Programme, Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) and Mahkota Medical Centre, as well as Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL), Gleneagles Hospital Penang, LohGuanLye Specialists Centre, Northern Heart Hospital Penang, Penang Adventist Hospital, Sunway Medical Centre, and Sunway Medical Centre Penang.

“MHTC’s participation at ASTINDO Travel Fair 2025 reaffirms Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening healthcare partnerships in Indonesia, particularly across Sumatra, which remains one of our key markets for health travellers."

"Through initiatives such as the Malaysia Healthcare Pavilion, we aim to showcase Malaysia’s excellence in medical expertise, advanced technology, and warm hospitality, qualities that have made Malaysia a preferred choice for healthcare travellers from Indonesia,” said Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer of MHTC.

This participation also supports the upcoming Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026 campaign, themed “Healing Meets Hospitality”.

The campaign celebrates Malaysia’s world-class healthcare ecosystem, which combines internationally accredited medical services with the nation’s distinctive culture of care and hospitality.

MHTC’s involvement complements Tourism Malaysia’s participation at the ASTINDO Travel Fair 2025, promoting the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign under the theme “Malaysia: A Sustainable Destination Rich in Culture”.

Together, both organisations aim to highlight Malaysia’s appeal not only as a leisure destination but also as a comprehensive hub for healthcare, wellness, education, and lifestyle tourism.

Tourism Malaysia Medan, led by Consul Rosalina Abdul Rahim, is also collaborating with travel partners to introduce new and unique holiday packages to destinations such as Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, and Melaka.

Additionally, offerings such as the Umrah Stop-Over Kuala Lumpur and Halal Tourism Packages, developed in partnership with Almeerah Plaza Tour, will further diversify Malaysia’s tourism appeal.

Malaysia has long been recognised as one of Asia’s leading destinations for medical tourism, attracting patients from neighbouring countries seeking specialised care in cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, fertility, and wellness treatments.

The ASTINDO Travel Fair 2025 serves as a key platform for fostering collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia across the tourism and healthcare sectors. The participation of MHTC and its hospital partners exemplifies the synergy between medical excellence and hospitality that defines Malaysia’s healthcare travel experience.

Established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaboration and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally.

With 80 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives.

In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel.

MYMT 2026 marks a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as a premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy.