Sarawak eyes bigger share of medical tourism

KUCHING: Sarawak aims to strengthen its position as a trusted medical tourism destination by fostering greater collaboration among the healthcare, tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors.

Borneo Global MediTourism Congress and Expo (BGMT) 2026 organising chairperson Audry Wan Ulok said medical tourism involved a wider ecosystem beyond hospitals and patients, including technology companies, investors, insurance providers, research institutions and medical facilitators.

Audry, who is also president of the Sarawak Tourism Federation, said the inaugural two-day event brought together 51 participating companies and nearly 500 delegates from more than 10 countries, with the exhibition expected to attract more than 2,000 visitors.

“Medical tourism is not one industry. It is many industries that form an ecosystem,” she said at the opening ceremony of the inaugural BGMT 2026 here yesterday.

She said international participants included delegates from Egypt, Nigeria and Australia, as well as regional partners from Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and the southern Philippines.

Audry said Sarawak’s strategic location in Borneo, proximity to neighbouring markets and improving connectivity offered opportunities to attract more international healthcare travellers.

However, she stressed that geographical advantages alone were not enough, as the state also needed to build trust by ensuring healthcare services met international standards.

“The growth of medical tourism in Sarawak tells us that there is an opportunity waiting to be developed. The number of healthcare travellers coming to Sarawak has grown significantly in recent years. But we believe the potential is much bigger,” she said.

She said BGMT was established as a platform for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, develop partnerships and explore business opportunities in the medical tourism sector.

The inaugural BGMT Medical Tourism Excellence Awards would also recognise individuals and organisations that had contributed to the industry.

Audry acknowledged the support of the Sarawak Government and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak in making the inaugural event possible.

She also thanked the event’s sponsors, including Platinum Partner AirBorneo, Gold Partners ACHSI and KPJ Healthcare, and Bronze Partners Sunway Fertility, Innoquest Pathology, Borneo Medical Centre and Timberland Medical Centre.

Audry said the organisers hoped BGMT would grow into an annual regional platform attracting more countries, international buyers and medical facilitators while strengthening Sarawak’s position in the global medical tourism landscape.

“We want BGMT to become a platform that the region looks forward to every year. A platform that connects Borneo to the world,” she said.

She called on delegates and industry stakeholders to use the two-day event to identify potential markets, establish partnerships, attract investments and improve the experience of patients seeking healthcare in Sarawak.

Audry also encouraged international delegates to experience Sarawak’s food, culture, nature and people during their visit.

She thanked Orbitel Systems, the event’s co-organiser, and its team for their efforts in organising the inaugural BGMT.