Asia's most loved country eyes $2.7B in annual medical tourism revenue by 2030

By Hoang Vu April 9, 2025 | 06:44 pm PT

Tourists are seen on the 272 steps of Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple at Batu Caves, Malaysia, April 19, 2024. Photo by Reuters

Malaysia, voted Asia's most loved country, has set a target of generating US$2.7 billion in annual medical tourism revenue within the next five years.

The country welcomed 1.52 million international patients in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) as cited by The Star.

In 2023, more than one million travelers visited Malaysia for healthcare services, generating nearly US$500 million in revenue, surpassing pre-Covid levels, the council reported.

While the full-year figures for 2024 have yet to be released, the council estimated that health tourism generated 2.4 billion MYR ($505.6 million) last year.

Over the past decade, Malaysia has established itself as a leading destination for health tourists in the Asia-Pacific region. Indonesia remained the largest source of medical tourists to Malaysia, accounting for 70 to 80% of the total.

Malaysia's healthcare system is especially attractive for its affordability, particularly for medical procedures and treatments, making it a popular choice among international patients.

Last year, Malaysia was named the "most loved country in Asia" in a survey conducted by the American finance website Insider Monkey.