GEORGE TOWN: Penang Centre of Medical Tourism (P.MED), an initiative of the Penang state government, has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Citilink Airlines operator PT Citilink Indonesia to bolster medical tourist arrivals from Indonesia to the state.
P.MED chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said Indonesia has always been a major source market for Penang's medical tourism given its language and cultural similarities with Malaysia.
Yeoh, who is also the state executive councillor for tourism and the creative economy, said the total revenue for Penang's medical tourism has increased exponentially from RM66 million in 2021 to RM285 million in 2022 after the reopening of the country's international borders.
"In the first 11 months of 2022, Penang welcomed 144,975 international medical arrivals, of which Indonesia contributed 54 per cent, followed closely by Bangladesh and India.
"To facilitate travel (from) Indonesia, we are now signing this MoU between P.MED and Citilink Airlines to bring more medical tourists to Penang," he said during the P.MED video launch and MoU signing event with PT Citilink Indonesia, witnessed by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow here today.
Also present were Indonesia's consul-general in Penang Bambang Suharto, Thai consul-general in Penang Khun Raschada Jiwalai, as well as the airline's chief commercial and cargo officer Ichwan F. Argus and vice president of sales and distribution Emir Bustamam.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Chow said that while the numbers achieved this year have yet to surpass that of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, the resurgence of medical tourists to Penang has been very encouraging.
"We have attained nearly 50 per cent of what we used to earn in 2019 (and) this is very good for our economy.
"It is also something that we are very proud of because it shows that Penang has survived as a tourism destination, and we continue to attract visitors because we have so much to offer," he said.
Chow said that according to the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council, from 2015 to 2019 the industry recorded a cumulative average growth rate of 17 per cent.
"In 2019, Penang received nearly 480,000 medical tourists, generating RM730 million in revenue, and this amounted to nearly 50 per cent of the total (medical tourism) revenue for Malaysia," he added.
Established in 2015, the P.MED initiative is now home to 13 member hospitals and 16 associate members spread over various strategic locations throughout Penang to provide excellent healthcare encompassing a wide range of specialist medical services.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Jan 02 2023
![Penang inks MOU with Indonesia's Citilink Airlines to boost medical tourism Penang inks MOU with Indonesia's Citilink Airlines to boost medical tourism](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/61672669318_ChowKonYeow.jpg)
P.MED chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said Indonesia has always been a major source market for Penang's medical tourism given its language and cultural similarities with Malaysia. - FB Chow Kon Yeow
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas tidak ambil bahagian rundingan gencatan senjata baharu
Hamas tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam pusingan baharu rundingan gencatan senjata Gaza yang dijadualkan di Qatar, pada Khamis.
Malaysia kecam pencerobohan Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu berkata perbuatan keji ini yang dilakukan di bawah perlindungan pasukan keselamatan Israel, merupakan pencerobohan serius terhadap satu daripada tapak paling suci Islam.
![WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723675747_Mpoxvirus.jpg)
WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Ini merupakan pengisytiharan kali kedua dalam tempoh dua tahun berikutan wabak yang bermula di Congo sudah merebak ke negara jiran.
![Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723674774_TayyipEMahmoudAbbas.jpg)
Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan
Erdogan maklumkan kepada Presiden Mahmoud Abbas, Turkiye akan terus sokong perjuangan Palestin.
![Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/71467442821_SheikhHasina.jpg)
Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid
Sheikh Hasina didakwa melakukan "genosid dan jenayah terhadap kemanusiaan" semasa beberapa minggu protes ganas yang mengakibatkan ratusan orang terbunuh.
![Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024 Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723674456_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Fadillah akan mengetengahkan pendirian Malaysia dalam melaksanakan usaha peralihan tenaga negara.
![Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721630406_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan
Perdana Menteri Anwar dijadualkan membuat lawatan rasmi pertama ke India dari 19 hingga 20 Ogos.