Monday 25/05/2026

^{MHTC and healthcare industry representatives at the opening ceremony of Malaysia Healthcare Week (MH Week) Guangzhou}



GUANGZHOU, May 25 (Bernama) -- In response to growing demand from China, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) recently launched Malaysia Healthcare Week Guangzhou, a five-day B2B market activation designed to strengthen referral pathways and deepen strategic partnerships within one of China’s most commercially influential healthcare travel corridors. The initiative comes as healthcare traveller arrivals from China recorded a compound annual growth rate of 23% between 2023 and 2025, surpassing 120,000 visitors and generating more than RM200 million in revenue for the first time. Held in Guangzhou, the activation brought together Malaysian healthcare providers, travel industry stakeholders, media representatives, and business partners through a series of targeted engagements focused on referral development, trust-building, and long-term cross-border healthcare collaboration.

The initiative formed part of Malaysia Healthcare’s broader international market strategy under the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026) campaign, which continues to position Malaysia as a preferred healthcare destination through the theme Healing Meets Hospitality. Unlike conventional consumer-focused campaigns, MH Week in Guangzhou was designed around a more targeted B2B-driven approach, reflecting the evolving dynamics of China’s outbound healthcare travel ecosystem. Insights gathered from previous market engagements showed that healthcare travel decisions in China are increasingly influenced by intermediary networks, including travel agencies, medical facilitators, insurers, and established referral ecosystems.

The programme focused on deepening engagement with key industry enablers that influence patient mobility while strengthening long-term referral pathways into Malaysia. Over five days, participants took part in a series of strategic engagements, including business matching sessions, a travel agency networking event, a private dinner centred on China’s growing silver economy, and a dedicated media engagement designed to enhance the visibility of healthcare narratives and strengthen institutional credibility in the market. Commenting on the initiative, Muhammad Hizami Aizat Che Harun, Head of Marketing Department, MHTC, said the Guangzhou activation reflected Malaysia Healthcare’s shift towards more focused, market-specific engagement strategies that prioritise quality partnerships and sustainable market growth.

“China continues to evolve into a highly strategic healthcare travel market, particularly with the rise of affluent middle-to-high income segments and the rapid expansion of the ageing population. Today’s healthcare travellers are increasingly seeking not only quality treatment, but also convenience, coordinated care, and a seamless overall experience,” said Hizami.

“Through MH Week in Guangzhou, our focus is to strengthen trusted referral ecosystems and build deeper engagement with stakeholders who directly influence healthcare travel decisions. Guangzhou is especially significant because of its strong outbound readiness, mature intermediary networks, and strategic position within the Greater Bay Area, one of China’s most economically influential regions.”

Through MH Week in Guangzhou, Malaysia Healthcare continued to strengthen its position not only as a destination for quality medical treatment, but as a trusted healthcare ecosystem capable of delivering coordinated, patient-centred care for international healthcare travellers. Participating healthcare institutions included Prince Court Medical Centre, KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital, KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 1, and Cengild G.I. Medical Centre, reflecting Malaysia Healthcare’s diverse clinical strengths and commitment to delivering quality care across multiple specialities. Further market engagement initiatives under MYMT 2026 are expected to continue throughout the year as MHTC expands its outreach across priority international markets.

Source: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi                                                       
Head, Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168                      
Email: shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
 
Name: Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at                             
Head of Unit (HoU), PR and Media
Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168          
Email: rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my

--BERNAMA