Health tourism has been around for a long time and is now becoming a trend in world tourism, especially in the context of epidemics and increasing environmental pollution. Many experts in the world have predicted that in the near future, medical tourism and health tourism will be the main trend and currently, many countries such as India, Japan, China, Thailand, and Indonesia have also deployed a variety of tours on this topic.
Indonesia's Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono said the country will promote the development of medical tourism in the future, in which funding and investment from domestic and foreign partners are strategic in improving the quality of national health services.
Indonesia wants to attract international tourists to popular tourist destinations such as Bali and Lake Toba, and experience high-quality medical services. Medical tourists often stay longer than regular tourists, contributing to boosting revenue for the local tourism industry.
With the specific goal of the National Tourism Development Strategy to develop resort models combined with the use of health care services to preserve and improve the quality of services for tourism in this country. To promptly respond to the digital transformation trend in the tourism industry, information technology applications in management and operation, connecting the supply of services and tourism products to serve domestic and foreign tourists have also been designed to accompany.
Indonesia wants to attract international tourists to famous tourist destinations such as Bali and Lake Toba, and experience high-quality medical services.
Indonesia's long-term and attractive plans include building and upgrading high-quality hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in popular tourist destinations. At the same time, thoroughly training medical staff, applying advanced medical technologies, ensuring the quality of medical services meets international standards. Implementing medical tourism promotion programs, organizing international medical conferences, cooperating with travel companies to attract international tourists to Indonesia. In particular, focusing on providing diverse medical services to meet the needs of international tourists such as traditional medicine, spa medicine, etc.
The government hopes that the above reforms are expected to open up new cooperation and investment opportunities in the country for foreign enterprises, especially in the supply of medical equipment and supplies.
With its great potential and benefits, medical tourism is expected to become an important economic sector of Indonesia in the future. The Indonesian government and people need to continue to make efforts to develop the medical tourism industry in a sustainable manner, contributing to the benefits of the country and its people.
According to the Ministry's data, in the 2021-2025 period, the country received 931.7 million USD in financial support from abroad to upgrade and improve the quality of the national health system. In 2023 alone, the funding figure was about 276.2 million USD, of which nearly 48% (131.8 million USD) was used in community health support programs and improving the quality of public health management. In addition, about 72.8 million USD (about 26.4%) was used to support training to improve the quality of doctors and nurses and upgrade medical equipment.
