medical tourism in bali

Indonesia and Mayo Clinic Come Together for New International Hospital in Bali

Bali aims to become a medical tourism destination by 2023.

• Written by MTM Editorial Team
• June 22, 2022

The beautiful holiday island of Bali is set to be home to a new international hospital built by the Indonesian Ministry of State-owned Enterprises in partnership with the Mayo Clinic. The 300-bed hospital is due to open in mid-2023. The move will likely stem the loss of precious foreign currency caused by nationals paying for healthcare abroad.

Medical tourism revenues

Indonesia has lost about $7 billion in healthcare revenues, according to government figures, because wealthy citizens travel overseas for medical treatment. The Indonesian government estimates that annually up to two million nationals seek treatment abroad. Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and the United States are major beneficiaries of this outbound medical tourism.

Indonesians are making this choice partly because the local healthcare system lacks adequate capacity, so they may face long delays in treatment. Wealthier Indonesians also prefer overseas treatments due to a “lack of trust in the local system and infrastructure”, according to a 2018 report by Asian business consultants Oliver Wyman.

Focus on cancer treatment

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said that the new international hospital will be operational from mid-2023. “We hope Bali will become a special economic zone for the health sector, and hopefully, by then, there will be no more Indonesians travelling overseas to seek medical treatment,” Mr Widodo said as he announced the project.

One focus of the new hospital is expected to be oncology, a field where the local healthcare system is considered to be particularly weak.

Medical tourism in Bali

The economy of the island of Bali has declined sharply in recent years, as its overdependence on tourism has been highlighted by travel constraints in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the pandemic placed further pressure on Bali, and Indonesia’s stretched healthcare services.

The international hospital will be built on a former golf course on the coast of Bali near Sanur, close to Grand Inna Bali Beach Resort. The area is on the quiet east coast with white sand beaches and is popular with retirees and elderly tourists. The Ministry of Tourism is also keen to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to develop and present Bali as a medical tourism destination.

Although few details of the hospital development have been made public, initial plans envisage 300 beds and a capacity for 30 intensive care beds. In addition, the medical site will include a nursing school and an academic research centre.

Foreign doctors

The Mayo Clinic will not be providing medical services or staffing. A spokesman explained: “The Mayo Clinic will be advising on the development, planning and design of the hospital and also in sharpening administrative efficiencies and effectiveness when it begins operations.”

However, it is expected that some foreign doctors will be recruited. Foreign doctors must pass a local examination and obtain a licence before practicing in Indonesia.

When plans for the hospital were first announced, Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Panjaitan said a special visa would be introduced for “first-class doctors who can practice and transfer technology.”

The Indonesian Doctors’ Association strongly opposes opening up the local medical profession to foreign practitioners, but it is expected that the visa will be limited to top specialists for the Bali International Hospital and will not be available for staff at private medical centres.

Future hospitals in Indonesia

The country has plans to establish two other international hospitals at a later date. These are slated for the capital city of Jakarta and Sumatra island’s largest city, Medan.

The Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota in the USA, as well as a network of clinics spread across the country. It runs several colleges of Science and Medicine and has an active research programme. Outside the USA, it runs Mayo Clinic Healthcare near Harley Street in London, UK.

In 2019, The Mayo Clinic entered a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the UAE’s largest health care network, to establish Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), one of the UAE’s most prominent hospitals for serious and complex care.

The Mayo Clinic has not revealed whether it seeks involvement in further Indonesian hospital projects to date.

Medical Travel Market is launching agency services to connect patients with the world’s most advanced hospitals and clinics. Sign up below to stay informed.

Discover Health Tourism Worldwide

Read these next.

Saudi Arabia Plans to Diversify Into Medical Tourism

Bali International Hospital to Elevate Medical Tourism in Bali

Event Preview: Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week

Taiwan’s AI Hospital Pioneers a New Era in Healthcare

American Hospital Dubai Extends Medical Tourism Reach With Offices in Nigeria

How Providers Are Transforming Healthcare in the Middle East

Lung Cancer: Symptoms, Smokers’ Lungs, and Screening

Top Medical Cannabis Clinics in the UK

Top Lung Cancer Specialists in the UK

Irish Health Authorities Approve Spinal Surgery Treatment Abroad

Blepharoplasty Prices: UK vs. Treatment Abroad

Cheek Reduction Trend: Exploring Buccal Fat Removal Surgery and Costs

Bali as a Medical Wellness Destination

Part of the Government’s plans to relaunch Bali as the Nation’s leading tourism destination is the creation of the Island as a top center for medical tourism or, as it is termed in some circles, wellness tourism.

As Bali awaits the end of the global pandemic and the return of foreign tourists,  medical tourism  will be initially promoted to domestic tourists. During the  Minister of Tourism’s weekly press briefing  on Monday, 30 August 2021, Sandiaga Uno said Bali has great potential for developing the health travel sector. Adding: “We are now promoting wellness tourism as a main program directed towards domestic tourists, persuading them not to seek medical treatment abroad, but in Indonesia instead.”

Quoted by  KOMPAS.com,  Sandiaga said good medical facilities were already in place on the Island of Bali. He said planning for the launch of medical tourism in Bali had undergone careful study over the past six months in cooperation with the  Association of Medical Tourism for Indonesia (Perkedwi).  Continuing, the Minister said: “We trialed this beginning several weeks ago. I also had a check-up. We are focusing on excellent quality so that the medical facilities can compete with health facilities overseas.”

Commenting on the need for excellent health facilities, Sandiaga said the quality of service at every hospital in Bali would continually be improved. He said that Jakarta and Medan would also be promoted as medical tourism destinations. “This promotional program will be targeted at domestic tourists who have in the past sought treatment overseas,” he said.

In the opinion of the Tourism Minister, the successful development of Bali as a medical tourism destination will create a large number of employment opportunities and help restore vitality to Bali’s tourism economy.

“We are moving ahead with the launch of health-based tourism. This represents a pillar effort to instill enthusiasm amid the current pandemic. Later, in the post-pandemic period, we will have become champions in possession of a solid victory,” said Sandiaga. 

In describing Bali’s future as a center for wellness tourism, Sandiaga said in addition to professional world-class medical treatment at clinics and hospitals, visitors will also be able to visit traditional tourism villages. In the natural setting of Balinese communities, patients will be able to experience Indonesian traditional therapies and treatments in beautiful village settings.  

Related Articles

The Case for Medical Tourism in Indonesia 

Editorial: A Rethink on Bali’s Recovery

Test-Tube IVF Services Available in Bali

• Email this article
• Print this article

J. M. Daniels

https://balidiscovery.com

Medical Assistance Without Additional Cost

Medical Assistance

After Surgery in Jakarta, Where Would You Like to Go for a Walk?

Medical tourism.

Do you need hospital recommendations and the cost estimates?

Hassle-free hospital visits, no queues., imtb medical assistance service.

Right Recommendation of Doctors

Budget Options for You to Compare

VIP Service, Queue Free

Comprehensive Service

The Story of Patient’s Journey with IMTB

Atta & Aurel's Journey with IMTB: From Pregnancy to After Birth

On November 11, 2023, the second child of Atta Halilintar and Aurel Hermansyah was born at RSIA Bunda Jakarta.

However, their journey with IMTB had already begun since the early stages of pregnancy. This story starts from . . .

Cerita Perjalanan Pasien Bersama IMTB

Medical Treatment While Traveling, Enjoy Medical Tourism in Indonesia

Experience medical treatment while enjoying the beauty of indonesia with imtb..

Our Partners

Various excellent partners working with imtb.

Our Medical Assistant

Indonesia Medical Tourism Board (IMTB) is a medical agency that provides medical tourism and medical assistance in Indonesia.

We have collaborated with IDI (Ikatan Dokter Indonesia) and provides medical consultant with international standard.

News & Updates

Latest updates from imtb.

Mau Berobat? Ini Tips Atasi Antrian Lama di Rumah Sakit

Apa Itu Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) pada IVF?

Apa Bedanya Robotic Surgery, Laparoskopi, dan Laparotomi?

Mengenal Robotic Surgery, Operasi dengan Teknologi Robotik

Apakah Kolonoskopi Menyakitkan? Ini yang Akan Dirasakan

Mengenal Operasi Kolonoskopi, Indikasi hingga Biayanya

In association with.

IMTB (Indonesian Medical Tourism Board) is an agency that facilitates and promotes Indonesian medical tourism by coordinating industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships at home and abroad. Research shows that most of Indonesia’s affluent markets prefer to use foreign medical services. Singapore. Malaysia, Korea, and Europe are among the popular treatment destinations for Indonesians. In addition to medical competence and facilities, these medical destinations also offer an enjoyable traveling experience. At IMTB, we believe that Indonesia has a lot to offer regarding medical competence and travel experience. IMTB was established to enable people to access leading medical services and facilities while enjoying a wonderful touring experience in Indonesia.

Medical Tourism in Bali: A Critical Assessment on the Potential and Strategy for its Development

Author details, journal details.

As a cultural-based tourism destination in the world, the phrase medical tourism seems to be a new form of tourism for Bali. Meanwhile, medical tourism global market reached USD 439 billion (GHCR, 2017) and made it as one of the fastest growing tourism market in the world. The study aimed at identifying the potency of Bali as a medical tourism destination, analyzing the SWOT, formulating the strategies for its development and prioritizing which strategies to be implemented.

The method used were interpretative analysis, IFE, EFE and SWOT to formulate strategies and QSPM to prioritize which alternative strategies to be implemented.

The results confirmed that Bali has the potential to be a medical tourism destination as there are medical providers, competent doctors and paramedics, unique medical tourism products and increased in numbers of patients coming to Bali. The questionnaires also referred that 84% respondents stated that Bali is potential to be a medical tourism destination. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of medical tourism development in Bali are similar to other established medical tourism destinations in Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and India). The only difference is that Indonesian government has not taken any roles in the medical tourism development at any stage. Result also showed that medical tourism development strategy in Bali has to be intensive by doing product development, market penetration and market development.

Keywords: Medical tourism, Potency, Development Strategy, SWOT, QSPM.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License .

Copyright © Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

558 Downloads

Volume & Issue

Volume 1, Issue 2

Article Type

How to cite.

Oka Purnamawati, Nyoman Darma Putra, Agung Suryawan Wiranatha. (2019-05-28). "Medical Tourism in Bali: A Critical Assessment on the Potential and Strategy for its Development." *Volume 1*, 2, 39-44

Useful Links

• Author Guildelines
• Peer Review Process
• Open Access Policy
• Plagiarism Policy
• Copyright Policy
• Call For Papers
• Article Processing Charges
• Indexing and Archiving

Indonesia building medical tourism hospital in Bali

PUBLISHED : 27 Dec 2021 at 17:03

WRITER: Bloomberg News

Indonesia is building a hospital that will be run in partnership with US-based Mayo Clinic as part of a bid to recoup $7 billion in outbound medical tourism.

President Joko Widodo seeks to bring in wealthy Indonesians and foreign visitors to the Bali International Hospital, which will start operating in mid-2023, he said at the groundbreaking event on Monday. The facility is being built in the Sanur area known for its white sand beaches.

About 2 million Indonesians travel to countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and the US for medical treatment each year due to a lack of trust and limited capacity in the local health system. That results in 97 trillion rupiah ($7 billion) of annual losses for the country, said Jokowi, as the president’s known. The hospital will be part of his broader bid to reduce imports of drugs, raw pharmaceutical material, as well as health equipment and services.

RECOMMENDED

Planting seeds of sustainability: grab's carbon offset journey, bank of thailand stresses independence, outlook improves as traders await big fund buys, asian shares extend rally sparked by fed, samyan mitrtown to break even in three years.

IHC Realizes the Transformation of Medical Tourism in Indonesia

Denpasar, June 19, 2023 – PT Pertamina Bina Medika IHC (Indonesia Healthcare Corporation) / State-Owned Hospital Holding supports the balance of Indonesia's tourism destinations preservation by being part of the medical tourism realization in Indonesia.  

It is driven by the fact that there are still 2 million Indonesian citizens seeking medical treatment abroad, and IHC's commitment to developing internationally renowned hospital healthcare services, namely Bali International Hospital (BIH) in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Health in Sanur, Bali.  

President Director of IHC, Dr. Mira Dyah Wahyuni, MARS, stated that IHC is preparing for the Bali International Hospital’s operation, supported by advanced technology and centers of excellence abbreviated as CONGO (Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Gastroentero-Hepatology, Orthopedic). In addition, the hospital offers comprehensive healthcare services , including Medical Check-Up (MCU) and a diagnostic center.

"Bali International Hospital is designed to be a medical tourism service in Indonesia. The plan is to commence operations in the second quarter of 2024. It will be situated on a 5-hectare land with four floors and 260 wards. The hospital follows an environmentally friendly or green hospital concept, surrounded by 183 trees. Moreover, 123 trees have been relocated to prevent tree felling in the hospital area, ” explained Dr. Mira, IHC ’ s President Director , during the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2023 in Bali. [June 15-17, 2023]  

She further mentioned that in its operation, IHC is collaborating with Mayo Clinic, the number one hospital in the United States and a trusted name in the global healthcare industry. The goal is to provide the best quality services to the Indonesian people with international standards.

"Another advantage of Bali International Hospital is its location within the Bali Health SEZ, which facilitates healthcare professionals practice within the SEZ area. It also allows drugs and medical devices imports with BPOM approval within the Health SEZ area to fulfill patients’ needs with diseases such as cancer, who usually seek treatment abroad due to limited medications availability," she explained.  

"The convenience of these healthcare services is also supported by the Ministry of Health Regulation (Permenkes) No. 1 of 2023, dated January 4, 2023, regarding healthcare services in the Health SEZ provision," she added.

Another advantage of Bali International Hospital is its green hospital concept. It involves environmentally friendly designs, materials, technologies, and practices utilization to reduce negative impacts on the environment. By implementing this concept, BIH can reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and create sustainable environmentally friendly practices. It is not only a short-term cost-saving investment but also a long-term investment in public health and environmental care.  

Previously, the groundbreaking or laying of the first stone ceremony for Bali International Hospital was attended and led directly by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, and other relevant ministers in December 2021.  

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, previously stated that through the State-Owned Hospital Holding, it is expected not only to provide healthcare services to the public but also to strengthen national health resilience. According to him, the State-Owned Hospital Holding role is expected to not only be able to inspire ease in serving the community but also to enhance its role in maintaining national health resilience, which can be achieved through four strategic objectives: providing quality healthcare services, expanding networks and scale, developing capabilities and innovation, as well as integrating and collaborating within the national healthcare ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Vice President of Corporate Communication of PT Pertamina (Persero), Fadjar Djoko Santoso, revealed this positive step by Pertamina Bina Medika IHC is fully supported by Pertamina Holding. The effort to establish an international hospital in the healthcare economic zone also supports the tourism and healthcare sectors in the country. "As a subsidiary of Pertamina, Pertamina Bina Medika plays a role in providing access and optimal healthcare services for the Indonesian people," explained Fadjar.

PT Pertamina Bina Medika IHC/State-Owned Hospital Holding is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero) engaged in healthcare services. The company is also the parent company of state-owned hospitals , managing 36 hospitals and affiliated with 39 other hospitals, as well as 172 health clinics throughout Indonesia.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations. **

Share this post

• Press Release
• Energia News
• {{item.name}}
• {{submenu.name}}
• {{submenu2Detail.name}}

{{ selectedMainItem.extraTitle }}

{{ selectedMainItem.extraDescription }}

BMTA: 14 Hospitals And Three Clinics Offer Medical Tourism In Bali

• September 28, 2022

According to a report from Antara News , I Gede Wiryana Patrajaya, Chairman of the Bali Medical Tourism Association (BMTA), has stated that 14 out of Bali’s 72-hospitals as well as three clinics are now offering medical tourism services on the island.

He explained that “there are six government hospitals and eight private hospitals. We chose government hospitals that have excellent services, such as Prof. Ngoerah Hospital … (formerly known as Sanglah Hospital) … for heart care, Mata Bali Hospital for eyes, and Bali Mandara Hospital for cancer.”

Medical tourism services are also available at Bhayangkara Hospital, for hyperbaric medicine, Udayana University Hospital for infectious diseases, and Mangusada Badung Hospital for heart cancer.

Besides government hospitals, services are also being provided at several private hospitals, such as Siloam Hospital for orthopedics, BIMC Nusa Dua Hospital for cosmetic surgery, and BIMC Kuta Hospital for emergencies.

Prima Medika Hospital for cancer, Bali Royal Hospital for IVF and plastic surgery, Kasih Ibu Saba Hospital for hyperbaric surgery, Kasih Ibu Hospital Denpasar for neurosurgery, and Ramata Hospital for eye care are also offering medical tourism services.

The three clinics offering medical tourism in Bali are Dental 911 for dental care, Penta Medika Clinic and 221 Assist Clinic, both for evacuation.

In addition, Antara News cliam that Patrajaya said that currently, as many as five health facilities, especially aesthetic clinics, have applied to become medical tourism service providers in Bali.

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin while virtually opening the HIMSS22 APAC Health Conference & Exhibition, also urged hospitals in Bali to be at the forefront of providing medical tourism.

Head of the public relations division of Prof. Ngoerah Hospital, Dewa Ketut Kresna, said that the programme is a strategic opportunity to promote the hospital.

“Like what the minister has said, hospitals in Bali are encouraged to have medical tourism services, and Prof. Ngoerah Hospital itself has readied them, especially heart surgery, maternal and child health, cancer, and aesthetic centre services, which are expected to complement medical tourism services in Bali,” Kresna said.

Source: Antara News

Latest Post

BaliExpat is being driven by Seven Stones Indonesia, a customer-centric company who believe in being authentic to deliver value to, and for, all stakeholders, to boost business growth and prosperity.

Write for Us

Andrzej barski, director of seven stones indonesia.

Andrzej is Co-owner/ Founder and Director of Seven Stones Indonesia. He was born in the UK to Polish parents and has been living in Indonesia for more than 33-years. He is a skilled writer, trainer and marketer with a deep understanding of Indonesia and its many cultures after spending many years travelling across the archipelago from North Sumatra to Irian Jaya.

His experience covers Marketing, Branding, Advertising, Publishing, Real Estate and Training for 5-Star Hotels and Resorts in Bali and Jakarta, which has given him a passion for the customer experience. He’s a published author and a regular contributor to local and regional publications. His interests include conservation, eco-conscious initiatives, spirituality and motorcycles. Andrzej speaks English and Indonesian.

Terje H. Nilsen

Terje is from Norway and has been living in Indonesia for over 20-years. He first came to Indonesia as a child and after earning his degree in Business Administration from the University of Agder in Norway, he moved to Indonesia in 1993, where he has worked in leading positions in education and the fitness/ wellness industries all over Indonesia including Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Medan and Bali.

He was Co-owner and CEO of the Paradise Property Group for 10-years and led the company to great success. He is now Co-owner/ Founder and Director of Seven Stones Indonesia offering market entry services for foreign investors, legal advice, sourcing of investments and in particular real estate investments. He has a soft spot for eco-friendly and socially sustainable projects and investments, while his personal business strengths are in property law, tourism trends, macroeconomics, Indonesian government and regulations. His personal interests are in sport, adventure, history and spiritual experiences.

Terje’s leadership, drive and knowledge are recognised across many industries and his unrivalled network of high level contacts in government and business spans the globe. He believes you do good and do well but always in that order. Terje speaks English, Indonesian and Norwegian.

Contact Our Consultants

Ridwan jasin zachrie, cfo of seven stones indonesia, jakarta.

Ridwan is one of Indonesia’s top executives with a long and illustrious career in the financial world. He holds several professional certifications including being a Certified Business Valuer (CBV) issued by the Australian Academy of Finance and Management; Broker-Dealer Representative (WPPE); and The Directorship Certification for Directors and Commissioners, issued by the Indonesian Institute of Commissioners and Directors.

His experience includes being the Managing Director at one of the top investment banking groups in the region, the Recapital Group, the CFO at State-owned enterprises in fishery industry and the CEO at Tanri Abeng & Son Holding. He’s also been an Independent Commissioner in several Financial Service companies and on the Audit and Risk Committee at Bank BTPN Tbk, Berau Coal Energy Tbk, Aetra Air Jakarta as well as working for Citibank, Bank Mandiri and HSBC. His last position was as CFO at PT Citra Putra Mandiri – OSO Group.

Ridwan has won a number of prestigious awards including the Best CFO Awards 2019 (Institute of Certified Management Accountant Australia-Indonesia); Asia Pacific Young Business Leader awarded by Asia 21 Network New York USA (Tokyo 2008); UK Alumni Business Awards 2008 awarded by the British Council; and The Most Inspiring Human Resources Practitioners’ version of Human Capital Magazine 2010.

He’s a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Law, Trisakti University, Co-Founder of the Paramadina Public Policy Institute and actively writes books, publications and articles in the mass media. He co-authored “Korupsi Mengorupsi Indonesia” in 2009, which helps those with an interest in understanding governance in Indonesia and the critical issue of corruption. Ridwan speaks Indonesian and English.

Per Fredrik Ecker

Managing director of seven stones indonesia, jakarta.

Per is the Managing Director of the Seven Stones Indonesia (SSI) Jakarta office and has more than 25-years’ experience in Indonesia, China, and Western Europe. He previously worked in senior management positions with Q-Free ASA, Siemens AG, and other companies in the telecom sector. Over the last six years, he has been the Chairman of the Indonesia-Norway Business Council (INBC) and recently become elected to be on the board of EuroCham Indonesia.

His most recent experience is within Intelligent Transport Solutions (ITS), Telecom, and other sectors within the Indonesian market. He is today through his position in SSI and by representing Norway Connect, promoting Nordic and European companies that would like to explore business opportunities in the Indonesian market. He’s also playing an active role to help create the Nordic House concept in Jakarta that will provide an excellent platform for Nordic companies entering Indonesia, where they’ll find a community that can offer support with trusted information and affordable services to enter this market.

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Latest News
• Popular News
• Business & Investment
• Bali's 14 hospitals, three clinics offering medical tourism: BMTA

Bali's 14 hospitals, three clinics offering medical tourism: BMTA

• September 28, 2022 00:12 GMT+700

Translator: Ni Putu Putri, Raka Adji Editor: Rahmad Nasution Copyright © ANTARA 2022

• medical tourism

Related News

International hospital targets residents seeking treatment abroad

• 11th January 2023

East Java Governor launches innovative programs at Dr Soetomo Hospital

• 4th January 2023

RI has 44 globally accredited hospitals to bolster health tourism

• 6th August 2022

Minister targets Bali to become int'l medical tourism destination

• 8th July 2022

Surabaya legislator suggests integrated tourism-transportation system

• 5th October 2021

Surabaya , Unair develop mobile application for medical tourism

• 28th September 2021

Surabaya city govt to launch medical tourism on September 27

• 17th September 2021

West Jakarta government to distribute medical device packages to MSMEs

• 8th September 2021

Boao Lecheng: A miraculous pioneer of Asian high-end medical tourism

• 5th February 2021

Indonesia plans to develop medical tourism sector

• 26th September 2017

DocDoc Positioned to Become Global Leading Medical Tourism Company

• 28th April 2015

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) Issues Warnings to Patients Regarding Unlicensed Practitioners and Medical Tourism

• 5th November 2014

Medical Tourism And Investments Opportunities In Bali And Indonesia

• December 16, 2023

Table of Contents

The global medical tourism market is projected to reach USD 1.4 trillion by 2027, showcasing the growing demand for cost-effective, high-quality healthcare abroad. This trend is fueled by rising healthcare costs in developed nations, coupled with increasing awareness of affordable and accessible medical options in destinations like Indonesia.

Forget expensive Western clinics; Indonesia has emerged as a medical tourism paradise, offering top-notch care at a fraction of the cost, stunning landscapes, and investment opportunities ripe for the picking.

Imagine this: Combining a rejuvenating spa treatment in Bali with a cutting-edge medical procedure in Jakarta, all while basking in the turquoise waters of the archipelago. This is the reality Indonesia offers, a booming market projected to reach USD 2.2 billion by 2028 .

Why Choose Indonesia?

• Cost-effectiveness: Save up to 70% compared to Western nations, making quality healthcare accessible to a wider audience.
• High-quality care: Modern hospitals with advanced technology and skilled professionals ensure exceptional medical services.
• Holistic approach: From traditional Balinese therapies to modern wellness retreats, Indonesia caters to your complete well-being.
• Diverse offerings: cosmetic surgery, dental care, fertility treatments, and more – find the perfect treatment for your needs.
• Unforgettable experience: Combine medical care with breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine.

Start your investment journey in Indonesia the right way

With so many diverse investment opportunities in Indonesia, you need to make sure you’ve got the right setup to do business here. 

Get help from our team of experts to register your company , navigate the real estate market and secure your visa and stay permit .

Schedule a free call with us today to plan your next steps with ILA.

Investment Opportunities Await

The medical tourism boom isn’t just for patients; it’s a gold mine for investors too. Here’s where you can tap into this lucrative landscape:

• Hospital development and management: Build new facilities or invest in existing ones, particularly in underserved regions.
• Medical equipment and supplies: Provide high-quality equipment and consumables to fuel the industry’s growth.
• Wellness and spa tourism: Develop spa resorts and wellness retreats that blend traditional and modern therapies.
• Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology: Invest in research and development of innovative healthcare solutions for the Indonesian market.
• Digital health: Implement telemedicine platforms and other digital solutions to improve healthcare access and affordability.

Government Support Paves the Way

Indonesia is actively backing medical tourism and healthcare infrastructure development through:

• Medical tourism special economic zones (SEZs): Enjoy tax breaks and other incentives for your investments.
• Streamlined healthcare regulations: Ensure patient safety and quality care standards.
• Marketing initiatives: Global campaigns are raising awareness of Indonesia’s medical tourism offerings.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Like any burgeoning market, Indonesia faces hurdles:

• Language barriers: English proficiency among healthcare professionals needs improvement.
• Uneven infrastructure : Access to quality healthcare varies across regions.
• Raising global awareness: Continued marketing efforts are crucial to compete with established destinations.

However, Indonesia is committed to overcoming these challenges and establishing itself as a leading medical tourism and investment hub. By addressing these issues and capitalising on its strengths, Indonesia can attract patients and investors alike, creating a win-win situation for all.

Exploring Investment Opportunities in Bali’s Thriving Medical Industry

The geographical location of Bali is a great opportunity for investors looking to invest in Medical tourism. For Australian looking to organize medical or holistic holidays, it is cheaper to book a flight to Bali and spend a week in Bali than to have an operation or full aesthetic treatment in Australia. Thailand used to be a destination due to the lack of investment in Bali on this matter. The last few years several actors emerged on the island making Bali a hub for Australian but also other countries such as South Korea, Singapore.

Actors starting to look at Indonesia to operate are coming from divers countries with a demand increasing from Malaysia. Here are the business opportunities to not miss and open to foreign investment:

• Aesthetic Clinic
• Health and Wellness center
• Rehabilitation center
• Detox center (alcohol for example)

Sanur’s Rise as a Medical Tourism Hub:

Sanur’s journey towards becoming a medical tourism hub is driven by several factors:

• Government initiative: The Indonesian government has designated Sanur as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for health and wellness tourism, offering tax breaks and other incentives to attract investors and medical facilities.
• World-class healthcare infrastructure: The Bali International Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in early 2024, will further elevate Sanur’s medical tourism offerings.
• Holistic approach: Sanur goes beyond conventional medicine, integrating traditional Balinese therapies, wellness retreats, and stunning natural beauty to promote holistic well-being.
• Accessibility: Direct flights to Bali from major cities worldwide make Sanur a convenient and attractive destination for medical tourists.

Scale and Scope:

• 50,000 square meters of covered space: BIH will be a sprawling medical facility, equipped to handle diverse healthcare needs.
• 260 wards and 35 intensive care units: This capacity ensures ample resources to cater to a significant patient volume.
• 8 operating rooms and 4 Cath labs: Advanced technology and dedicated surgical facilities guarantee high-quality medical procedures.
• 5 Centers of Excellence (COE): BIH will specialize in cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroentero-hepatology, and orthopedics, offering comprehensive care in critical areas.

Economic Impact :

BIH is expected to significantly contribute to Sanur and Bali’s economy:

• Job creation: Up to 2,000 jobs are expected to be created, boosting local employment and economic activity.
• Increased tourism revenue: Medical tourists will bring additional spending to the region, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.
• Infrastructure development: BIH will act as a catalyst for further infrastructure development in Sanur, enhancing its overall attractiveness.

Ready to unlock the potential of Indonesia’s medical tourism and investment boom? Look no further than ILA Consulting, your trusted partner for navigating this dynamic market. Whether you’re a patient seeking high-quality care at affordable prices or an investor looking for lucrative opportunities, ILA can guide you every step of the way.

How to set up a clinic or business in Bali medical tourism?

Good news! Foreigners can set up a business in medical tourism or in wellness industry by establishing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) called PT PMA. The company needs to apply for the right business license called KBLI. The business code is specific to the activity such as clinic or for event and retreat management. We strongly recommend to use the proper license and not use other loophole if you plan to open a clinic as strong control will apply.

The clinic activity is considered at risk and a Sertifikat Standard is required. Contact us to know more on how to apply to invest in the medical tourism or open a clinic in Bali or the rest of Indonesia.

Here’s how we can accompany you:

• Market research and feasibility studies: We’ll provide comprehensive insights into the Indonesian healthcare market, identifying lucrative investment opportunities and potential risks.
• Investment structuring and legal compliance: We’ll guide you through the legal maze of company formation, licensing, and regulatory compliance, ensuring your investment adheres to all Indonesian regulations.
• Partnership and negotiation support: We’ll help you identify and connect with the right local partners, facilitating smooth business negotiations and joint venture agreements.
• Post-investment support: We’ll provide ongoing legal and administrative support, ensuring your business operates smoothly and efficiently.

Why you can trust ILA

With over 500 successful projects worldwide, ILA Global Consulting leads the way in assisting international investors and corporations as they navigate the dynamic markets of Southeast Asia. Our over 20 years of experience in strategic, legal, and investment advisory services allow us to provide customized solutions to expertly manage the complex investment landscapes of Indonesia.

ILA’s guiding principle, ‘Your journey, our expertise,’ underscores our dedication to fostering growth, ensuring compliance, and transforming challenges into opportunities for our clients. We serve corporations, high-net-worth individuals, and dynamic entrepreneurs, delivering personalized solutions that promote growth, ensure regulatory compliance, and convert market challenges into opportunities.

As a renowned firm with years of experience and a tightly knit network of business partners, we can share accurate and reliable legal and investment information about Indonesia. Our blog posts are written by Peni and Flo personally and are constantly updated to adjust to any changes in Indonesian law and local regulations.

Nani Peni Adiarti, the co-founder of ILA Global Consulting, holds a Bachelor's degree from Sahid Jakarta University. With more than 15 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge in market entry and office management, Peni specializes in guiding investors through the intricacies of Indonesia and specifically Bali's market. Renowned for her exceptional ability to cultivate strong client relationships, Nani boasts a proven track record in new business development, problem-solving, negotiation, effective management, customer service, project management, and sales. Her innovative approach consistently yields results, forging lasting connections across Southeast Asia.

Find Our Latest Blog

ILA Global Consulting is dedicated to guiding your business through Southeast Asia’s dynamic markets with tailored strategies, deep regional insights and 20+ years of experience.

Follow Us On Social Media

Our Services

• Business Setup and Investment
• Tax and Compliance Service
• Legal Service
• Real Estate and Property Service
• Visa Services

recent Posts

How To Open A Representative Office In Bali

How to invest in a property in bali and lombok, guide to setting up a company to invest in a property in lombok, land ownership and land title transfer in bali and lombok, should you use a nominee for your company in indonesia, how to buy a property in lombok.

related articles

Categories:

• Real Estate
• Tax & Finance

Reach out to  us now!

Contact us and get a free consultation with our team

Other ways to get in touch with us

• [email protected]

Our Locations

• Real Estate and Property
• Business Setup
• Legal Advisory
• Tax and Compliance
• Visa Service
• Our Consultants

Copyright © 2024. ilaglobalconsulting.com

• Company Registration
• Investor KITAS – E28
• Working KITAS – E23
• Remote Worker Visa – E33G
• Multiple Entry Business Visa – D2
• Multiple Entry Pre-Investment Business Visa – D12
• Single Entry Business Visa – C2
• Single Entry Pre-Investment Business Visa – C12
• Spouse Visa – E31A
• Second Home KITAS – E33
• Retirement Visa – E33F

• Company registration
• Taxation and Accounting

• Open access
• Published: 10 January 2024

Medical tourism among Indonesians: a scoping review

• Gregorius Abanit Asa 1   na1 ,
• Nelsensius Klau Fauk 1 , 2   na1 ,
• Caitlan McLean 1 &
• Paul Russell Ward 1  

BMC Health Services Research volume  24 , Article number:  49 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

3680 Accesses

2 Citations

1 Altmetric

Metrics details

International medical travel or medical tourism is not a new phenomenon in many countries, including among Indonesians. Indonesia is reported as a major source of patients from the lower, middle, to upper classes for its neighbouring countries. This scoping review aims to synthesise evidence on supporting factors for Indonesians taking medical tourism and what needs to be improved in Indonesia’s health system.

We conducted a scoping review guided by a framework provided by Arksey and O’Malley. We systematically searched existing literature from 5 databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Wiley. Data were extracted based on study details, study design, characteristics of participants and results. Analysis followed the three-stage procedure outlined by Thomas and Harden: (1) coding the text line by line, interpreting the data and identifying concepts or themes; (2) developing descriptive themes by grouping similar concepts in theme and subtheme and (3) generating analytical themes by reviewing preliminary themes and discussing the addition or revision of themes.

A total of 25 articles were included in this review. The review highlights a broad range of facilitators for medical tourism among Indonesians: (i) availability of health services, medical specialities, and person-centred care, (ii) region adjacency, transport, and health agency, (iii) affordability of medical treatment, (iv) religious and socio-cultural factors, and (v) reasons patients reported distrust in Indonesian doctors.

The findings indicate improvements in the Indonesian health system are necessary if the increasing rates of international medical tourism by Indonesian people are to change. Addressing the factors identified in this scoping review through avenues including policy may increase people’s satisfaction and trust towards health care and treatment in Indonesia, thereby reducing the number of Indonesian people taking medical tourism.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

International medical travel or medical tourism is not a new phenomenon. It refers to the practice of patients travelling overseas for better medical treatment and relaxation [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and can be traced back to the ancient times when Greek pilgrims travelled from the Mediterranean Sea to Epidaurus, a small territory known as the healing god [ 4 ]. People around the world have travelled to India for Yoga and Ayurvedic healing since the 1500s [ 4 ]. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Europeans travelled to spa towns in the south of France to treat their diseases as well as to enjoy the sun and escape from cold climatic condition [ 5 ]. Since the 19th century, more people have taken international medical travel to treat their diseases [ 6 ]. Medical tourism is correspondent with the growth of global health services, marked by increasing international trade in health products [ 7 ].

Available reports have suggested a significant increase in the volume of international medical travel has occurred since the late 1990s [ 7 ], ranging from thousands to millions every year [ 8 , 9 ]. Asia is among the biggest players driving international medical travel in affordable and high-quality care [ 10 ]. Some Asian countries, such as South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, are considered the major international medical travel destinations [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Thailand has been known as a medical tourism destination since the 1970s [ 15 ]. Malaysia and Singapore have reformed the healthcare system since the 1980s, resulting in improved health quality services attracting people from neighbouring countries [ 16 ]. This is also supported by the advancement of infrastructure and technologies, allowing people to access health services easily and to be well-informed about global health. In the context of Asia, the development of international medical tourism was partly pushed by the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s, particularly caused difficulties and reluctance among many middle class Asia to access private healthcare, resulting in private hospitals generating new sources of revenue by targeting international patients [ 11 , 17 ].

Indonesians have been taking international medical travel to neighbouring countries with better healthcare services for many years. The range of Indonesians health condition treated in neighbouring countries include cardiology treatment (bypass surgery and angioplasty), orthopaedic procedures (knee and hip surgery), cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures (breast augmentation and facelifts), fertility treatment (in-vitro fertilisation and intrauterine insemination), dental treatments, ophthalmology procedures, neurosurgery procedures (brain tumours and spinal surgeries), and urology treatments (kidney stone removal and prostate surgery) [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Studies have reported that Indonesia is a major source of patients from the lower, middle, to upper classes for its neighbour countries [ 23 , 24 , 25 ] and has been the primary revenue contributor for Malaysian (> 75%) and Singapore (60%) medical tourism [ 26 , 27 ]. It is reported that nearly two million Indonesians travelled overseas for medical treatment in 2022 [ 28 ]. Of these, about 1 million travelled to Malaysia, 750,000 to Singapore, and the rest to Japan, the US, Germany and other countries, resulting in Indonesia losing 11.5 billion US Dollars (IDR 170 trillion) annually [ 28 , 29 ]. It is also reported that about 60% of Indonesians who took international medical travel were from Jakarta, 15% were from East Java, and the rest from other cities such as Medan, Batam, and Kalimantan [ 29 ]. Such loss has attracted the Indonesian government’s attention to curb international medical travel, which has started since 2010 by improving health facilities in West Kalimantan to stem people in West Kalimantan from going to Malaysia [ 30 ]. For example, the government invested USD 660,000 to provide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners in the public Regional General Hospital Soedarso in Pontianak [ 30 ]. In 2012, an agreement between The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the Ministry of Health was made as part of the effort to strengthen the partnership with Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) Hospital and the Courtyard by Marriott Bali Hotel and construct a new hospital equipped with world-class facilities in Sanur, Bali in 2016 [ 23 ].

Internationally, studies have suggested push and pull factors to explain why patients travel internationally for their medical care [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Factors included the cost of care in a person’s home country [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ] as well as patients’ concerns about quality of services, care, facilities and a lack of qualified doctors [ 33 , 34 ]. Some findings have also suggested that patients’ decisions for medical tourism are influenced by the availability and ease of travel and transportation to the designated countries and better procedures to access medical treatment [ 8 ]. Perceptions of faster and more convenient services in other countries, and distrust in doctors in home countries are also supporting factors for patients’ medical tourism [ 39 ].

Although there have been some reviews on international medical travel in some settings [ 8 , 39 ], there have been no reviews in the context of Indonesia. The authors considered it important to conduct a scoping review to synthesise evidence on reasons or supporting factors for Indonesians travelling overseas for medical treatment. The review was conducted to address a specific question: what factors facilitate Indonesian patients seeking medical treatment overseas? To determine whether there have been any previous reviews exploring topic of medical tourisms among Indonesians, we conducted a preliminary search in PubMed and CINHAL and found no ongoing or published reviews. This scoping review seeks to identify how Indonesia’s existing health care system could be improved to reduce international medical tourism.

To identify available evidence on the topic, we apply several steps suggested in a framework by Arksey and O’Malley and additional recommendations from Levac and colleagues [ 40 , 41 ]: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data, and (5) accumulating, summarizing, and reporting the results. To guide the search strategy, this review aims to answer the following question: “what are the facilitators for Indonesians taking international medical travel?”.

Search strategy for identifying relevant studies

We developed inclusion and exclusion criteria to guide the search and selection of studies for this review (outlined in Table  1 ). The search included studies from 2000 to July 2023. This timeframe was justified as it aligns with an increase in the rate of international medical travel [ 25 , 34 ]. Data search was conducted from 1 to 10 August 2023 in the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Wiley. These databases were chosen as they are among large citation databases providing access to literatures on health and tourism. The following key concepts were used across the databases: international medical travel/medical tourism, patients/travellers, facilitators, and Indonesian. We developed synonyms of the key concepts for the search. A full description of the search terms used for each database is in the supplementary file 1. The search terms were formulated using the combination of key terms or the synonym of each concept using Boolean terms (OR and AND). We also searched grey literature using the key concepts in google scholar and Google to increase comprehensiveness searching of available evidence. Data from across the databases was exported to Endnote and all duplicates were removed. The authors then screened the articles based on the title and abstract. The researchers (GAA and NKF) completed independent screening and blindly labelled each study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Disagreements were resolved by all authors. We also did manual searches of the reference lists of all studies included after screening. An example of a complete search string in Scopus is provided below:

“International medical travel” OR “medical tourism” OR “health tourism” OR “health travel” AND facilitators OR “supporting factors” OR reasons OR “push factors” OR “pull factors” AND patients OR travellers AND indonesia* OR indonesian.

Study selection and screening

Using developed search terms, 649 articles were identified. Of these, 75 were removed due to duplication in endnote software, leaving 572 articles. The remaining articles were screened according to titles and abstracts, resulting in removing 437 articles. We then screened the full texts of the remaining 137 articles. Of these, 118 articles were excluded due to not meeting inclusion criteria. Throughout the screening process, any disagreements were examined through discussion among authors, resulting in 22 articles being included. Three articles were found from the references of the previous literatures, and 3 literatures in Indonesian language were found through google scholar. Finally, 25 literatures were included in the scoping review (Fig.  1 full article screening process).

PRISMA Flow diagram of systematic literature search: records identified, screened, eligible and included in the review

Data extraction and synthesis (charting the data)

An extraction sheet was developed and used to extract the following information from each study: (1) study details: the last name of the first author, year of publication; (2) study design: type of study, study aim and analysis methods; (3) analysis, and (4) results (Supplementary File 2). Data extraction was conducted by GAA and NKF and results were read and discussed by all team members.

Data analysis

Analysis followed the three-stage procedure outlined by Thomas and Harden: [ 42 , 43 ] (1) coding the text line by line, interpreting the data and identifying concepts or themes; (2) developing descriptive themes by grouping similar concepts in theme and subtheme and (3) generating analytical themes by reviewing preliminary themes and discussing the addition or revision of themes. Finally, the major themes relating to Indonesian people undertaking international medical travel were identified and discussed.

Characteristics of included studies

An overview of the characteristics of the included studies can be found in the supplementary file 2. Of the 25 articles discussed in the review, 10 studies used qualitative methods [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], 12 studies used quantitative methods [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 38 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. Additionally, a mixed-method study [ 59 ], a conference review [ 60 ], and a review [ 23 ] were included. The studies included began from 2011 until 2022. 21 studies discussed Indonesian patients accessing medical treatment in Malaysia [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ], 4 studies examined Indonesian patients accessing medical treatment in Singapore [ 23 , 36 , 56 , 60 ], and 3 of the studies examined Indonesian patients accessing medical treatment in Thailand [ 23 , 35 , 36 ]. 22 articles were published in English [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 58 ], and 3 articles were published in Indonesian language [ 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Most participants were from middle to upper class background [ 20 , 21 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 47 , 54 , 58 , 61 ]. Participants from low economic status were reported in two studies [ 45 , 54 ]. The occupation of the participants included housewife, student, driver, office clerk, civil servant, professional, business owner, and retired [ 21 , 44 , 45 , 49 , 51 ]. The participants were from Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sumatra, West Java, Nort Sulawesi, Riau, West Sumatra, Aceh, Bangka, and Kalimantan [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 54 , 56 , 58 ].

The review of the included studies is discussed in the following themes: (1) availability of health services, medical specialities, and person-centred care: (2) region adjacency, transport, and health agency: (3) affordability of medical treatment: (4) religious and socio-cultural factors: and (5) reasons patients reported distrust in Indonesian doctors.

Theme 1: availability of health services, medical specialities, and person-centred care

Health facilities and medical specialists.

Several studies reported that the availability of needed medical treatment, advanced medical technology, and medical specialists for specific health issues in other countries, which are not available in Indonesia have been amongst other main reasons for Indonesians travelling overseas for medical treatment [ 20 , 23 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 45 , 47 , 53 , 60 ]. For example, a study with elderly mothers in Medan, North Sumatra reported a lack of medical equipment for heart and stroke in the setting, leading some Medanese taking international medical travel to Penang, Malaysia for medical treatment [ 35 ]. Similarly, another study with married infertile Indonesian couples suggested that the unavailability of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) in healthcare facilities Indonesia is a supporting factor medical tourism among the Indonesian couples [ 36 ]. In addition, sperm and egg donation as well as surrogacy are strictly banned in Indonesia, giving Indonesian couples no choice but to travel overseas to access the required health service. Lack of medical specialists is another challenge in healthcare facilities in periphery regions of Indonesia. Healthcare facilities in periphery of Indonesia is reported to experience shortage of qualified doctors, and difficulties to retain qualified doctors for long term, leading patients to seeking qualified doctors overseas or in neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore [ 45 ]. Such situations are emphasised in Mahendradhata’s study on challenge and risks for healthcare tourism, suggesting that medical specialists, health facilities, and health technicians outside Jakarta are inadequately and unequally distributed, resulting in Indonesians seeking alternative medical treatment overseas [ 23 ].

The knowledge and experiences of well-organised and fast healthcare services in other countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore are also reported as factors attracting Indonesian patients to have medical treatment overseas [ 23 , 37 , 44 , 45 , 47 , 51 , 62 ]. For example, a study reported that it took one day with details clearly explained in a hospital in Penang, Malaysia to be informed about the results of blood test, and four days in Indonesia to receive the results of the same test [ 37 ]. Also, long queues for consultation with medical specialists and disorganised medical records were detrimental for patients’ health, resulting in patients making decision to have medical treatment overseas [ 62 ]. The experiences of complex medical processes and unnecessary requirements had also resulted in disappointment with the hospitals and their services and patients seeking medical treatment overseas [ 45 ]. Meanwhile, the experience of simple ease of making medical appointments with overseas hospitals or doctors from Indonesia through smartphones is also another supporting factor for medical tourism in among Indonesians [ 37 ].

Person-centred care

Several studies reported lack of person-centred care as a supporting factor for Indonesian patients seeking medical treatment overseas [ 45 , 47 , 59 , 62 ]. A study with Indonesian patients in Malaysia and Singapore suggested that patients experienced the feelings of care, respect and positive self-esteem through positive and supporting attitudes and behaviours of medical staffs towards them and their family members during medical treatment [ 45 , 59 ]. Such positive attitudes and behaviours of medical staff are reflected in being cheerful, and smiling while serving, and good communication with patients and their families, which also lead to positive patient-doctor relations [ 62 ]. Thus, studies with Indonesian patients accessing medical treatment in these countries suggested patients felt their dignity being maintained and respected and no frustration due to feeling unimportant or ignored [ 47 ].

Theme 2: region adjacency, transport, and health agency

Geographical and transport factors.

A few studies described several provinces in Indonesia are geographically closer to Malaysia and Singapore than to Jakarta as a supporting factor for Indonesians taking international medical travel to these countries [ 35 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 54 ]. Indonesian patients accessing medical treatment in Penang (Malaysia), were not only from North Sumatra and Aceh but also from Jakarta, East Java, West Java, and other regions in Sumatra [ 54 ]. Patients from Medan and Aceh in Indonesia stated that geographical proximity to Penang-Malaysia and reliability of transport through regular flights and ferries were supporting factors for them taking international medical travel [ 35 ]. These factors were reported to create much more comfortable feeling for Indonesian patients to access medical treatment in Malaysia than in Jakarta, Indonesia [ 44 ]. In addition, some studies reported that Indonesian patients from Kalimantan reached healthcare facilities in Kuching, Malaysia, by bus, taxi and uber (Grab) which are more economical than flying to Jakarta [ 37 , 41 , 44 ]. Taxi drivers were also reported to have knowledge of hospitals for international travellers as they often drove patients from overseas. Taxi drivers shared knowledge such as availability of specialised doctors, further supporting Indonesian patients seeking medical treatment in Malaysia [ 44 ].

Health agency

It was also reported that several Malaysian private hospitals have their official offices in Pontianak, Indonesia, that helped register customers, schedule consultations, and manage complaints [ 45 ]. This was also supported by contractual business between hospitals in Malaysia and certain local companies in Indonesia, acting as “medical representatives” that help facilitate patients to use medical care overseas. Such systems result in successfully recruited an average of 5000 patients per month [ 48 ]. A quantitative study found more than 90% of Indonesians travelling to Malaysia for medical treatment were influenced by marketing promotion programs including word of mouth, advertisements, sales promotion, and public relations [ 58 ]. The regular visitations of Malaysian doctors to Indonesia and holding health exhibition and public talks in temples, churches, and mosques in Indonesia, which introduce and disseminate medical treatment in Malaysia to the Indonesian, were also supporting factors for medical tourism among Indonesians [ 48 ].

Theme 3: affordability of medical treatment

Most of the included studies found that medical treatments in Jakarta and in Kalimantan were more expensive than in Malaysia, another supporting factor for medical tourism for Indonesian people [ 20 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 45 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 60 , 49 ]. For example, chemotherapy in Penang, Malaysia was reportedly cheaper than in Jakarta and Medan, Indonesia [ 37 ]. Patients were reported to receive free health consultation following medical treatment in Malaysia [ 52 ]. Meanwhile, patients in Indonesia tended to be asked for frequent paid visits and consultations with doctors, leading to increased medical costs [ 44 ].

For some Indonesian lower middle class patients, accessing medical treatment overseas was acknowledged to have additional financial burdens for transports and accommodations, however such treatment was still considered worthwhile compared to having treatment in Indonesia [ 45 , 46 ]. While for some Indonesian upper class patients, it is their preference to have medical treatment in Singapore and Thailand due to excellent health system and a very high quality of medical care, irrespective of the cost being more expensive in Singapore than Malaysia [ 36 ].

Theme 4: religious and socio-cultural factors

Studies also reported that the preference to have medical treatment overseas was also influenced by religious reasons, cultural background, and their attitudes towards private and public hospitals in Indonesia [ 35 , 36 , 38 , 60 ]. For example, a study suggested that Indonesian Muslim patients accessed In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Malaysia due to compatible religious backgrounds feeling safer to be treated by Muslim doctors who knew about halal and haram in Islam law [ 36 ]. Similarly, Chinese Indonesian patients felt comfortable seeking medical treatment in Singapore due to its ethnic Chinese majority [ 36 ]. In addition, having a sense of class difference to native Indonesians and the perceptions that Indonesian government hospitals were for native Indonesians, were also reported as supporting factors for Chinese Indonesian patients to choose private hospitals overseas [ 35 ]. Another supporting factor for medical tourism among Indonesia patients is the sense of self-fulfilment for prestige it provides [ 53 ].

Social support from others (i.e., families, friends, and neighbours) through the provision of information about medical treatment overseas was also an enabling factor for Indonesians’ decisions to take international medical travel [ 21 , 22 , 44 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. For example, it was reported that around 60% of Indonesian patients took medical travel to Malaysia following recommendation from their families and friends who had either visited or lived there, while some acquired information through the internet (about 14%) and travel agents (around 12%) [ 21 ]. Other findings have also suggested that former Indonesian patients tended to share their experiences and recommended the services of medical specialists in Malaysia to their friends and family [ 45 ]. This is also supported by communication skills of Malaysian doctors in using Chinese dialects when communicating with older Chinese Indonesians [ 45 ].

Language similarities which create easy communication between Indonesian patients and other people or healthcare professionals in Malaysia were also contributing factors for the state of comfort for patients [ 37 , 45 , 59 ]. These were reported to make it easier for Indonesian patients to discuss and describe their health issues to healthcare professionals in Malaysia [ 37 , 45 , 59 ]. In addition, studies also reported that Indonesian patients who travel to Singapore and Thailand were from upper class background and were proficient with English and Chinese languages [ 37 , 59 ].

Theme 5: reasons patients reported distrust in Indonesian doctors

Most of the included studies reported a lack of trust in healthcare professionals as an influencing factor for Indonesian patients travelling overseas for medical treatment [ 35 , 37 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 53 , 49 , 63 ]. A study with patients in Pontianak, Kalimantan reported patients’ comparison of ineffective medications prescribed by Indonesian doctors in Pontianak and in Jakarta with medication received from doctors in Kuching, Malaysia, proving to bring positive progress to their health condition [ 44 ]. The ineffective medication was highlighted as the reasons for their multiple visits and consultations with medical doctors in Indonesia, which decreased their trust in the Indonesian doctors and supported their decision for medical tourism [ 44 ]. Patients’ distrust in Indonesian doctors (i.e., in Pontianak, Kalimantan) was also evidenced by the lack of accuracy in health issue diagnosis, leading to patients seeking a second opinion from doctors overseas and receiving different diagnosis results and treatment and experiencing positive health recovery [ 37 , 44 ]. For some patients, the lack of diagnosis accuracy and ineffective medication had led to long period of medical treatments in Indonesia without progress, which was a supporting factor for them seeking treatment overseas [ 44 ]. A couple of studies have suggested criticism and suspicion held by patients towards Indonesian doctors in Pontianak-Kalimantan. This distrust was linked prescription of a range of all antibiotics to patients without accurate diagnosis of the health issue and the tendency for doctors to overstate or exaggerate patients’ diseases [ 44 , 45 ]. For example, a patient had been scheduled for appendix surgery in Indonesia but was diagnosed with simple constipation in Penang, Malaysia [ 35 ]. The lack of trust and confidence in the Indonesian doctors in some settings had led to Indonesian patients travelling to neighbouring countries for medical treatment. They felt that doctors overseas provided clear information regarding the disease and the percentage of likelihood for a cure while patient’s in the studies reported Indonesian doctors in Pontianak were reported to sometimes hide the truth from them [ 45 , 54 ].

Distrust in doctors has been reported to lead to patients visiting Indonesian doctors only for ‘small things’ or health issues and considering taking international medical travel as a better option [ 35 ]. This is in line with another study reporting that some Indonesian patients did not dare to take risk for operation or surgery in Indonesia due to fear of malpractice or failed operation which may lead to negative outcomes including paralysis [ 46 ]. Negative perceptions towards doctors in Indonesia were also attributed to a claim that doctors easily made money via prescribing varieties of medicine for patients to consume which may potentially have high risks of overdoses [ 47 ]. Similarly, another study found that health professionals in Indonesia were reported as being arrogant, incompetent and untrustworthy, leading patients to express disdain to hierarchical medical culture that seemingly positions patients as passive consumers rather than active recipients [ 63 ].

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scoping review to synthesise the available evidence on factors supporting international medical travel from Indonesia. It is noted that the number of Indonesian patients from low, middle, and upper class participating in international medical travel has increased in recent years [ 28 , 53 , 64 ]. Our findings suggest that international medical travel by Indonesian patients is linked to five domains:(i) the availability of health services, medical specialities, and person-centred care in the designated countries, (ii) region adjacency, transport, and health agency, (iii) affordability of medical treatment in other countries, (iv) religious and socio-cultural factors, and (v) reasons patients reported distrust in Indonesian doctors.

Overall, our findings have highlighted that patient’s perceive low quality of Indonesian health care and treatment, resulting in Indonesia becoming the major supplier of patients to neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. This scoping review shows that patients seeking medical treatment outside of Indonesia do so due to a number of reported issues, including the unavailability of medical equipment, inadequate qualified doctors, and inadequate trained staff in healthcare facilities in remote and border areas of Indonesia. These factors have been identified as heavily influencing patients’ preferences to seek medical treatment overseas. This scoping review supports previous findings which have reported that Indonesia has a comparably low ratio of qualified doctors to patients, and most prefer to work in private hospitals in urban areas within Indonesia [ 65 , 66 , 67 ], resulting in understaffing and the maldistribution of skilled staff within periphery areas [ 68 , 69 ]. It is suggested that with a population of about 270 million, Indonesia needs 270,000 doctors [ 70 ]. Currently, Indonesia has only 110,000 doctors with the ratio of doctors to patients being 0.6:1000, which is very low compared to other countries, such as Malaysia with the ratio of 2.2:1000 [ 70 ].

Across studies, patients reported feeling frustrated, neglected and that they were not being provided with person-centred care within Indonesian health settings. Further, evidence suggests patients felt undervalued in Indonesian health systems and that their care was not prioritised. This was identified as stemming from factors including sparseness of health facilities, a shortage of qualified doctors, and trained staffs [ 69 , 71 ]. There is also evidence that patients sought more timely health care and treatment overseas as a consequence of long waiting time periods for medical treatment within Indonesia [ 72 ].

Reflecting upon geographical proximity, it is understandable that inequality of health facilities and medical staff distribution between Java and border areas or eastern part of Indonesia has contributed to patients’ decision to take international medical travel to the nearest neighbouring countries. Some regions in Malaysia such as Penang, Melaka, and Kuching are the most popular destinations for Indonesian patients. For example, Kuching can be accessed by air taking about 45 min and by land taking about 10–12 h, allowing lower-middle class patients from West Kalimantan to easily have access to medical services [ 35 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 54 ]. Having treatment in Malaysia is also supported by inexpensive transport costs compared to travel to Jakarta by plane which is 3–5 times more expensive. Reliable transport was also a contributing factor for patients seeking medical treatment overseas due to the convenience it afforded them [ 35 , 38 , 44 ]. Similarly, the reliability of services from health agencies overseas in connecting patients with foreign healthcare providers played a significant role in supporting Indonesian patients’ medical tourism and were reported to have accelerated medical tourism growth in countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand [ 73 , 74 ]. Health agencies were acknowledged to have added values to services, such as arranging pre- and post-treatment, travel arrangements, and scheduling tours in destination countries which increased the appeal of international medical tourism [ 73 , 74 ]. Our findings indicate that Indonesian patients participate in international medical tourism due to having limited access to adequate quality healthcare within the borders of Indonesia. Improvements in the access, coverage, and quality of healthcare throughout Indonesia, (specifically in less urban areas) may reduce the occurrence of international medical tourism and improve patient perception of local health services.

High cost of medical treatment in hospitals in Indonesia was another common theme discussed in the majority of studies [ 20 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 45 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 60 , 49 ]. Medical treatment in Jakarta, for example, was considered more expensive than in Malaysia which is well known as the most preferred international medical travel destination due to its excellent service and cost affordability [ 15 ]. Our findings suggest that healthcare facilities with modern technologies are also available in some hospitals in big cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, East Java, West Java, and Central Java, however some studies reported issues in the quality of medical services and treatment being offered [ 44 , 45 ]. This seemed to have resulted in an increased tendency for Indonesian patients to travel internationally to seek medical treatment and a second opinion from doctors. Moreover, different diagnostic results and faster recovery time received overseas undoubtedly have increased suspicion and distrust in medical treatment and doctors within Indonesia. Studies reported this was due to inaccurate diagnoses, ineffective medicines, incomprehensive assessment, and patients receiving inconsistent explanations regarding diseases [ 75 , 76 ]. Such negative experiences have shown to have implications on both interpersonal trust in doctors who provide treatment to patients and institutional trust, particularly with the education system that trained the doctors [ 77 , 78 ]. This in turn created negative perceptions towards the country’s health system.

Findings of this review have suggested similarities in religion (Islam) and culture (Malay and Chinese) were also factors that strengthened Indonesian patients’ preferences for medical treatment in other countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore [ 36 , 47 ]. In addition, the growing level of dissatisfaction towards healthcare services in public or government owned hospitals has also become the underlying reason for many Indonesian people from upper class or secure economic backgrounds seeking medical treatment overseas. Our findings strengthen previous reports suggesting a lower satisfaction of patients towards healthcare service and treatment in public hospitals compared to private hospitals in Indonesia [ 79 , 80 ]. The findings imply the need for the improvement of healthcare systems, medical treatments, and service delivery within the Indonesian public hospital sector.

Implication for future intervention

This study emphasises the importance of prioritising the improvement of domestic health systems within Indonesia, particularly within periphery areas. This includes ensuring the equitable distribution of quality healthcare facilities, medical equipment, technology, and the fostering of a strong national healthcare workforce. Increasing the number of medical specialists within Indonesia and improving standards of care nationwide (and not just in urban areas) may promote engagement with Indonesian medical services over international ones. It is anticipated that such improvements would result in increased local service utilisation and reduced medical tourism as patients regain trust in the healthcare system within Indonesia. These findings could also be used to inform Indonesian healthcare workers on patients’ perceptions and concern with care.

Implication for future study

This review suggests that there have been very limited studies involving Indonesian health workers or doctors in peripheral areas. Also, there have been very limited studies involving patients from Jakarta and other regions in Java that have contributed more than 50% of Indonesian patients taking medical tourism. None of the included studies involved policy makers from the Indonesian government and private sectors to explore their perspectives on the increased medical tourism among Indonesians. As there have been millions of Indonesian people travelling overseas for medical treatments, there is a need for further studies exploring the continuity and management of care for the patients returning home to Indonesia. Future studies that address all these aspects are recommended as the results can be used to inform and improve health policy and system and healthcare practice and delivery in Indonesia.

Strength and limitation of the study

Although there are many studies on international medical travel among Indonesian patients, to our knowledge, this is the first scoping review on international medical travel taken by Indonesians. The use of several databases for data search helped researchers identify a broad range of themes on this topic involving Indonesian patients. However, as this review only included articles published in English and Indonesia, we may have missed studies on this topic reported in other languages.

The review presents a range of supporting factors for Indonesian patients taking international medical travel, including the availability of health services, medical specialities, and person-centred care in other countries; region adjacency, transport, and health agency; affordability of medical treatment; religious and socio-cultural factors; and reasons patients reported distrust in Indonesian doctors. The findings indicate improvements in the Indonesian health system are necessary if the increasing rates of international medical tourism taken by Indonesian people is to change. Addressing the factors identified in this scoping review through avenues including policy may increase people’s satisfaction and trust towards health care and treatment in Indonesia, thereby reduce the number of Indonesian people taking medical tourism. The findings also indicate the need for establishment of international standard hospitals.

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

An D. Understanding medical tourists in Korea: cross-cultural perceptions of medical tourism among patients from the USA, Russia, Japan, and China. Asia Pac J Tourism Res. 2014;19(10):1141–69.

Article   Google Scholar  

Birch DW, Vu L, Karmali S, Stoklossa CJ, Sharma AM. Medical tourism in bariatric Surgery. Am J Surg. 2010;199(5):604–8.

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Abubakar AM, Ilkan M. Impact of online WOM on destination trust and intention to travel: a medical tourism perspective. J Destination Mark Manage. 2016;5(3):192–201.

Google Scholar  

Ben-Natan M, Ben-Sefer E, Malka Ehrenfeld R. Medical tourism: a new role for nursing? Online J Issues Nurs. 2009;14(3):B1.

Cook P. What is health and medical tourism? Reimagining Sociology. 2008:1–13.

Lee M, Han H, Lockyer T. Medical tourism—attracting Japanese tourists for medical tourism experience. J Travel Tourism Mark. 2012;29(1):69–86.

Connell J. Contemporary medical tourism: Conceptualisation, culture and commodification. Tour Manag. 2013;34:1–13.

Crooks VA, Kingsbury P, Snyder J, Johnston R. What is known about the patient’s experience of medical tourism? A scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010;10(1):1–12.

Keckley P, Underwood H. Medical tourism: update and implications. Washington, DC: Deloitte Center for Health Solutions; 2009.

Ganguli S, Ebrahim AH. A qualitative analysis of Singapore’s medical tourism competitiveness. Tourism Manage Perspect. 2017;21:74–84.

Kim S, Arcodia C, Kim I. Critical success factors of medical tourism: the case of South Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(24):4964.

Article   PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Whittaker A, Chee HL. Perceptions of an ‘international hospital’in Thailand by medical travel patients: cross-cultural tensions in a transnational space. Soc Sci Med. 2015;124:290–7.

Cham T-H, Lim Y-M, Sia B-C, Cheah J-H, Ting H. Medical tourism destination image and its relationship with the intention to revisit: a study of Chinese medical tourists in Malaysia. J China Tourism Res. 2021;17(2):163–91.

Teh I. Healthcare tourism in Thailand: Pain ahead? Asia-Pacific Biotech News. 2007;11(08):493–7.

Connell J. Medical tourism: Sea, sun, sand and… Surgery. Tour Manag. 2006;27(6):1093–100.

Leng CH. Medical tourism and the state in Malaysia and Singapore. Global Social Policy. 2010;10(3):336–57.

Chee HL, Whittaker A, Yeoh BS. International medical travel and the politics of transnational mobility in Asia. Asia Pac Viewp. 2017;58(2):129–35.

Passage. Why Indonesians choose Malaysia for health and medical care 2018 [Available from: https://www.passageasia.com/why-indonesians-choose-malaysia-for-health-and-medical-care/ .

Purwanto H. 550,000 Indonesians go to Malaysia for medical treatment per year. 2015.

Abd Manaf NH, Hussin H, Jahn Kassim PN, Alavi R, Dahari Z. Country perspective on medical tourism: the Malaysian experience. Leadersh Health Serv. 2015;28(1):43–56.

Musa G, Thirumoorthi T, Doshi D. Travel behaviour among inbound medical tourists in Kuala Lumpur. Curr Issues Tourism. 2012;15(6):525–43.

Yeoh E, Othman K, Ahmad H. Understanding medical tourists: Word-of-mouth and viral marketing as potent marketing tools. Tour Manag. 2013;34:196–201.

Mahendradhata Y. Proceed with caution: potential challenges and risks of developing healthcare tourism in Indonesia. Glob Public Health. 2019;14(3):340–50.

Asrianti T. Poor healthcare in Indonesia boosts medical tourism2011 28 July 2023. Available from: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/04/05/poor-healthcare-indonesia-boostsmedical-tourism.html .

Pocock NS, Phua KH. Medical tourism and policy implications for health systems: a conceptual framework from a comparative study of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Globalization and Health. 2011;7(1):1–12.

Poo C. Recovery of Malaysia’s medical tourism sector in the bag, more markets targeted2023. Available from: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/677849 .

Budget direct insurance. Medical Tourism Singapore 2023: An in-depth analysis of Medical Tourism in Singapore 2023 [Available from: https://www.budgetdirect.com.sg/travel-insurance/research/medical-tourism-singapore .

Muthiariny DE. Jokowi Says Nearly 2 Million Indonesians Seek Healthcare Abroad2023 [cited 2023. Available from: https://en.tempo.co/read/1699118/jokowi-says-nearly-2-million-indonesians-seek-healthcare-abroad .

Santoso D. Why Do You Enjoy Going Overseas for Treatment?2023 12 September 2023. Available from: https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2023/07/16/en-mengapa-senang-berobat-ke-luar-negeri .

Ormond M. Solidarity by demand? Exit and voice in international medical travel - the case of Indonesia. Social science & medicine (1982). 2015;124:305– 12.

Gray HH, Poland SC. Medical tourism: crossing borders to access health care. Kennedy Inst Ethics J. 2008;18(2):193–201.

Turner L. Cross-border dental care:‘dental tourism’and patient mobility. Br Dent J. 2008;204(10):553–4.

Article   CAS   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Howze KS. Medical tourism: symptom or cure. Ga L Rev. 2006;41:1013.

Horowitz MD. Medical tourism-health care in the global economy. Phys Exec. 2007;33(6):24.

Whittaker A, Chee HL, Por HH. Regional circuits of international medical travel: prescriptions of trust, cultural affinity and history. Asia Pac Viewp. 2017;58(2):136–47.

Bennett L, Pangestu M. Regional reproductive quests: cross-border reproductive travel among infertile Indonesian couples. Asia Pac Viewp. 2017;58(2):162–74.

Abdullah AR, Cheah S, Mulia VB, Abdul Fatah I. Factors attracting Indonesian medical tourists to Penang. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, GCBSS Special Edition. 2019:1–10.

Kumar J, Hussian K. Factors affecting medical tourism destination selection: a Malaysian perspective. J Global Bus Insights. 2016;1(1):1–10.

Article   CAS   Google Scholar  

Durham J, Blondell SJ. A realist synthesis of cross-border patient movement from low and middle income countries to similar or higher income countries. Globalization and Health. 2017;13.

Arksey H, O’Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 2005;8(1):19–32.

Levac D, Colquhoun H, O’Brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implement Sci. 2010;5:1–9.

Thomas J, Harden A. Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2008;8(1):1–10.

Asa GA, Fauk NK, Ward PR. Traditional male circumcision and the risk for HIV transmission among men: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2023;13(5):e072118.

Ormond M. En route: transport and embodiment in international medical travel journeys between Indonesia and Malaysia. Mobilities. 2015;10(2):285–303.

Ormond M, Sulianti D. More than medical tourism: lessons from Indonesia and Malaysia on South–South intra-regional medical travel. Curr Issues Tourism. 2017;20(1):94–110.

Chee HL, Whittaker A. Moralities in international medical travel: moral logics in the narratives of Indonesian patients and locally-based facilitators in Malaysia. J Ethnic Migration Stud. 2020;46(20):4264–81.

Md Zain NA, Connell J, Mohd Zahari MS, Hanafiah MH. Intra-regional Medical Tourism demand in Malaysia: a qualitative study of Indonesian medical tourists’ rationale and preferences. Malays J Med Sci. 2022;29(2):138–56.

PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Chee HL, Whittaker A, Por HH. Sociality and transnational social space in the making of medical tourism: local actors and Indonesian patients in Malaysia. Mobilities. 2019;14(1):87–102.

Ormond M. Solidarity by demand? Exit and voice in international medical travel–the case of Indonesia. Soc Sci Med. 2015;124:305–12.

Budiwan V. The understanding of Indonesian patients of hospital service quality in Singapore. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2016;224:176–83.

Manaf NHA, Hussin H, Kassim PNJ, Alavi R, Dahari Z. Medical tourism service quality: finally some empirical findings. Total Qual Manage Bus Excellence. 2015;26(9–10):1017–28.

Saragih HS, Jonathan P. Views of Indonesian consumer towards medical tourism experience in Malaysia. J Asia Bus Stud. 2019;13(4):507–24.

Angela J, Suryono IB, Wijaya S. Profiling Indonesian medical tourists: a motivation-based segmentation study. Petra Christian University; 2020.

Nasution NH, Aulia D, Siregar FA. Comparation of direct and indirect costs for medical tourism patient to Penang Island Malaysia in 2019. 2020.

Widiyastuty F, Suryawati C, Arso SP. Mengapa Masyarakat Kecamatan Entikong Kabupaten Sanggau Berobat Ke Sarawak, Malaysia. Jurnal Kesehatan Komunitas. 2023;9(1):115–21.

Adiwidjaja I, Dhuhaniyati L. Implikasi Pelayanan Prima (Service Excellence) Dan Paket Agenda Reformasi Layanan Kesehatan: Pelajaran Menarik Dari Singapura Dan Malaysia Bagi Indonesia. Reformasi. 2012;2(2).

Kwary ML. Pengaruh Faktor Motivasi Dan Reputasi Rumah Sakit terhadap behavioral intention Kunjungan Medis Ke Malaysia. Agora. 2019;7(2).

Morissan M, Gan GGG. Motivation and loyalty of Indonesian medical tourists toward Malaysian health services. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147–4478). 2021;10(6):295–305.

Ratnasari RT, Gunawan S, Pitchay AA, Mohd Salleh MC. Sustainable medical tourism: investigating health-care travel in Indonesia and Malaysia. Int J Healthc Manag. 2022;15(3):220–9.

Nuryani A. Indonesian medical travel and Wedhang Corona: an international webinar review. Int J Spa Wellness. 2020;3(1):56–9.

Bell D, Holliday R, Ormond M, Mainil T. Transnational healthcare, cross-border perspectives. Soc Sci Med. 2015;124:284–9.

Budiwan V, Efendi. The Understanding of Indonesian Patients of Hospital Service Quality in Singapore. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2016;224:176–83.

Durham J. Cross-border patient movement from the Lao PDR and the interplay between social networks and economic and cultural capital: a qualitative study. Asia Pac Viewp. 2017;58(2):175–89.

Ediansyah, Arief M, Hamsal M, Abdinagoro SB. Interplay between Networking Capability and Hospital Performance in Indonesia’s Medical Tourism Sector. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1).

Booth A. Health challenges in Indonesia. J Community Med Health Solut. 2023;4:007–9.

Efendi F, Chen CM, Nursalam N, Andriyani NWF, Kurniati A, Nancarrow SA. How to attract health students to remote areas in Indonesia: a discrete choice experiment. Int J Health Plann Manag. 2016;31(4):430–45.

Seeberg J, Pannarunothai S, Padmawati RS, Trisnantoro L, Barua N, Pandav CS. Treatment seeking and health financing in selected poor urban neighbourhoods in India, Indonesia and Thailand. Soc Sci Med. 2014;102:49–57.

Kanchanachitra C, Lindelow M, Johnston T, Hanvoravongchai P, Lorenzo FM, Huong NL, et al. Human resources for health in southeast Asia: shortages, distributional challenges, and international trade in health services. Lancet. 2011;377(9767):769–81.

Asa GA, Fauk NK, Mwanri L, Ward PR. Understanding barriers to the access to healthcare and rehabilitation services: a qualitative study with mothers or female caregivers of children with a disability in Indonesia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(21):11546.

Putra ST. Dealing with Shortage of Medical Doctors in Indonesia2022. Available from: https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2022/07/20/dealing-with-shortage-of-medical-doctors-in-indonesia .

Asmaningrum N, Kurniawati D, Tsai YF. Threats to patient dignity in clinical care settings: a qualitative comparison of Indonesian nurses and patients. J Clin Nurs. 2020;29(5–6):899–908.

Samir N, Karim S. An insight: medical tourism, local and international perspective. Oman Med J. 2011;26(4):215.

Gan LL, Frederick JR. Medical tourism facilitators: patterns of service differentiation. J Vacation Mark. 2011;17(3):165–83.

Dalstrom M. Medical travel facilitators: connecting patients and providers in a globalized world. Anthropol Med. 2013;20(1):24–35.

Ekawati FM, Claramita M, Hort K, Furler J, Licqurish S, Gunn J. Patients’ experience of using primary care services in the context of Indonesian universal health coverage reforms. Asia Pac Family Med. 2017;16:1–10.

Fauk NK, Seran AL, Raymond C, Merry MS, Tahir R, Asa GA, et al. Why do we not follow lifesaving rules? Factors affecting nonadherence to COVID-19 prevention guidelines in Indonesia: healthcare professionals’ perspectives. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8502.

Article   CAS   PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Ward P. To trust or not to trust (in doctors)? That is the question. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; 2018. pp. 718–20.

Asa GA, Fauk NK, Gesesew HA, Foley KM, Lunnay B, Ward PR. Understanding public perceptions in social media responses to posts about acute severe hepatitis of unknown etiology in Indonesia: a qualitative study. BMC Infect Dis. 2023;23(1):306.

Mutiarasari D, Demak IPK, Bangkele EY, Nur R, Setyawati T. Patient satisfaction: Public vs. private hospital in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Gac Sanit. 2021;35:186–S90.

Handayani PW, Hidayanto AN, Ayuningtyas D, Budi I. Hospital information system institutionalization processes in Indonesian public, government-owned and privately owned hospitals. Int J Med Informatics. 2016;95:17–34.

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Joint first author: these authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing (PHEHF), Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Gregorius Abanit Asa, Nelsensius Klau Fauk, Caitlan McLean & Paul Russell Ward

Institute of Resource Governance and Social Change, Kupang, Indonesia

Nelsensius Klau Fauk

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Contributions

GAA and NKF contributed to all phase of the study including conceptualisation, format analysis, methodology, data analysis, writing original draft, review, and editing. CM contributed to review and editing. PRW contributed to methodology, review, and editing. All authors have read and approved of the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregorius Abanit Asa .

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval, consent for publication, competing interests.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Material 1

Supplementary material 2, supplementary material 3, rights and permissions.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Asa, G.A., Fauk, N.K., McLean, C. et al. Medical tourism among Indonesians: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res 24 , 49 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10528-1

Download citation

Received : 25 October 2023

Accepted : 26 December 2023

Published : 10 January 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10528-1

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Scoping review
• International medical travel
• Medical tourism
• Medical treatment

BMC Health Services Research

ISSN: 1472-6963

• General enquiries: [email protected]

TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

• Destinations
• Jakpost Guide to
• Newsletter New
• Mobile Apps
• Tenggara Strategics
• B/NDL Studios

• Archipelago
• Election 2024
• Regulations
• Asia & Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
• Entertainment
• Arts & Culture
• Environment
• Work it Right
• Quick Dispatch
• Longform Biz

Medical tourism: Turning the tide for Indonesian patients

The economic value of this medical tourism is conservatively estimated at US$8-10 billion annually, for medical treatment alone.

Share this article

Change text size, gift premium articles to anyone.

Indonesians are no stranger to traveling overseas to seek medical care. Every year, nearly 2 million Indonesian citizens travel overseas for medical purposes, with the vast majority visiting Southeast Asian neighbours, Singapore alone welcoming about 300,000.

The economic value of this medical tourism is conservatively estimated at US$8-10 billion annually, for medical treatment alone. For a country with $35 billion annual healthcare spend, this represents a colossal outflow. If allied services are added, including stay, travel, discretionary spending and loss of livelihood, the total costs are enormous. Turning the tide on this outflow will have major implications for Indonesia’s healthcare ecosystem.

The lure from neighboring healthcare destinations is gaining ground. Understanding the lucrative nature of medical tourism from Indonesia, Southeast Asian neighbors have been actively promoting their healthcare destinations to Indonesian citizens.

The government of Malaysia, under the aegis of MHTC (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council) has been executing the Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint with an aim to achieve $400 million healthcare travel revenue by 2025. It also recently mooted the Malaysia Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme, with an aim to elevate the profile of select private hospitals in Malaysia on par with leading world-class medical destinations.

Thailand introduced new medical visa rules in January 2023, reducing the cost of application, allowing multiple entries per year, a maximum 90-day stay and allowing three accompanying family members. Singapore has been actively promoting its medical tourism industry under Singapore Medicine, a multi-agency government-industry partnership including Singapore Tourism Board, Economic Development Board (EDB) and Trade Ministry (MTI), led by the Health Ministry. Private hospitals in Singapore have also been partnering with hospitals in Indonesia to provide advanced care for patients when not available in their home country.

The winds of change are blowing

Recognizing the enormous opportunity cost of outbound medical tourism, Indonesia has begun taking steps to stem this outflow and redirect billions of dollars into the local healthcare sector.

The 41-hectare medical tourism Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sanur, Bali, aims at integrating the country's health and tourism sectors. The project involves the development of a new international hospital, the Bali International Hospital, in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, with a range of accommodation facilities consisting of premium resorts, hotels and care homes to accommodate up to 5,000 people. This SEZ is part of a strategy to recapture between 4 and 8 percent of Indonesian medical tourists seeking treatment abroad. Once fully functional it is expected to provide employment to nearly 40,000 workers.

Indonesia has also announced investments into 15 class A and class B hospitals in greater Jakarta; Bali; and Medan, Sumatra, as medical tourism pilots, as well as other investments across the four pillars of health-tourism development: medical, wellness, sports event-based health and MICE-based (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) scientific health tourism.

However, these plans are still at an early stage and a lot remains to be done.

Turning the tide on medical tourism: Four-point prescription

First, address the medical talent crunch: At the heart of patient outflow from Indonesia is the lack of care quality, with limited availability and expertise of medical doctors. Addressing this challenge requires investment and patience, but it is imperative a start be made now.

In the short term, this would require importing medical talent. The recent legislative intent by government to permit foreign doctors to practice in Indonesia is a welcome step. In addition, establishing a Returning Expert Program (like in Malaysia) with appropriate incentives and academic accreditations, could also serve as a pathway for talented Indonesian “diaspora doctors” to return. Understandably, blanket, nation-wide implementation of “talent import” could be challenging, but a “sandbox” fashioned rollout for specific hospitals or SEZs could be a practical path.

In the long-term, Indonesia will need to disproportionately invest into medical education, by setting up educational institutions and programs and partnering with foreign medical institutions to train local doctors. India offers valuable lessons, where large investments into medical education, through a mix of private and public efforts, have boosted the supply of talent. Undeniably, the journey to quality of medical talent in India is still underway, but is expected to follow suit as the ecosystem matures.

Second, establish shared-care models with regional and international leaders: Being the fourth-most populous country in the world, many regional and international hospital networks view Indonesia as an attractive destination. This provides local hospitals with an opportunity to partner with world-class centers to deliver shared care to Indonesian patients. This “win-win” model would allow international hospital networks access to Indonesian patients, provide local hospitals the necessary knowledge and upskilling opportunities to deliver quality care and offer patients an opportunity to get treated in the comfort of their home country. This would require local hospitals to build mechanisms for international referral support including booking, accommodation, flights and medical communication, potentially through satellite clinics. It would also imply heavily utilizing digital technology to support remote diagnosis, patient monitoring, clinician-patient interaction and broader delivery of care.

Third, undertake concerted effort to improve patient experience: Retaining outbound tourists requires local hospitals to also provide supporting amenities tailored to the needs of international clients. Waiting time, lack of transparent communication, inferior quality of support services and rude behavior are familiar challenges repeated by locals, which do not require sophisticated medical knowledge to address. Strong hospital operations and inculcating customer-service mindset can help resolve these challenges.

It might also be valuable to learn from leading medical destinations, which operate separate, luxury international wings. Bangkok’s Bumrungrad International Hospital, for example, has a dedicated department to help organize treatment schedules and support family, and operates two serviced apartment blocks for family accommodation.

Fourth, focus on a niche: The variety of clinical specialties for which Indonesians travel abroad is vast. A concerted, joint effort by the government and private sector, focusing on select high value specialties could yield rapid efforts. This would require the government to launch dedicated training and education programs for specific specialties, partner with other governments to upskill specific talent and allow foreign talent to practice in a “sandbox” framework. Private sector, in turn, would need to invest into building relevant centers of excellence and ensuring at-par patient experience.

As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia’s health care sector potential is enormous. With its demographic advantage and rising affluence, Indonesia is both a source of huge medical tourism value, and a sleeping giant of healthcare provision ready to rise.

Efforts to address the talent shortage, forge credible international partnerships, improve patient experience and build a niche in the right medical services could provide a platform for remarkable growth that supercharges the nation’s healthcare ecosystem.

Anurag Agrawal is a partner and associate director, while Yishu Pi is a consultant at Boston Consulting Group.

‘I am impressed’, Prabowo praises Marcos during Manila visit

Possible player strike over workload a serious concern, says Dortmund's Sahin

Court limits screenings of videos in France mass rape case

Related articles, pope francis and indonesian hypocrisy on papua, inconsequential but symbolic un resolution, freeport ‘doesn't belong to the us’, says jokowi. ‘it's ours now’, taking the leap in a new era of payments, pope francis defies health fears on historic asia-pacific tour, related article, more in paper.

Analysis: Govt adopts mandatory B35 biodiesel program as CPO prices tumble

Global chip crunch stunts Indonesia car sales recovery

XL profit falls in Q3 as tower sale income dries

Papua armed group releases New Zealand pilot from captivity: Police

Valuing the National Games

KPU announces candidates for regional elections

Pro-prabowo parties united behind plan to install professionals in cabinet, indonesia far short of 2024 renewable energy target, relief as new zealand pilot freed from captivity in papua, netherlands inks new deal to return indonesian artifacts, us to propose ban on chinese software, hardware in connected vehicles, missing travel ban from law revision raises concern, us urges citizens to leave lebanon while commercial options available.

• Jakpost Guide To
• Art & Culture
• Today's Paper
• Southeast Asia
• Cyber Media Guidelines
• Paper Subscription
• Privacy Policy
• Discussion Guideline
• Term of Use

© 2016 - 2024 PT. Bina Media Tenggara

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

• SIMCards / eSIMS

Hotels, Resorts, Villas & Holiday Rentals

Bali's no. 1 Travel Guide

Don't Forget:

Things to Do in Bali

With our BaliCard, Bali's Digital Discount Card & Tourist Pass, you save 10% and more

What's on Bali

Events at W Bali Seminyak

Events at Desa Potato Head

Events at AYANA Bali

Events at MRS SIPPY

Hospitals, Clinics & Doctors in Bali

Bali provides all the healthcare you need.

When visiting tropical islands surrounded by the ocean, travelers might worry about locating suitable healthcare facilities. However, there are numerous clinics, hospitals, dentists, and other services in Bali that adhere to strict international standards of practice, so there is no need to worry about a lack of facilities in tourist areas. In fact, in recent years, Bali has become a popular location for medical tourism, with more clinics and hospitals of the highest international standards opening on the Island of Gods.

Despite the medical costs being cheaper than in many other countries, good medical travel insurance is an absolute must. More info

There are plenty of SOS and 24/7 emergency clinics, particularly in popular tourist destinations. Convenience stores such as M-Mart, Circle-K, Alfamart, and Indomart all sell painkillers and other basic medical necessities.

Indonesia has two major pharmacy (APOTEK) chains (Guardian and Kimia Farma), with many locations in Bali, which offer a wide variety of medicines and can also provide advice, as these pharmacies have trained medical staff.

Bring photo identification, such as a passport or driver’s license, as it is required to be treated in any hospital in Indonesia.

Below you can find a selection of medical services in Bali that have a good reputation:

Hospitals in Bali

Prof IGNG Ngoerah Hospital (Sanglah General Hospital)

BIMC Hospital Kuta

BaliMed Canggu Clinic

International SOS Bali Clinic

Nusa Medica Clinic – BaliCard Discount

Siloam Hospitals Denpasar

Unicare Clinic

Kasih Ibu Hospital

Clinics in bali.

Bali Clinic

Bali Royal Hospital

Fullerton Health Clinic Bali

Medical Bhaktivedanta Bali

Dentists in bali.

SOS Medika Clinic Bali

Puri Medical

Prime Plus Medical

Medical Plus Bali

Cosmedical centers in bali.

Bali Healing Beauty – BaliCard Discount

Teta Aesthetic Clinic Bali – BaliCard Discount

The Laser Lounge – BaliCard Discount

BIMC CosMedic Centre Nusa Dua

Rejuvie Aesthetic, Anti-Aging & Dental Clinic Kuta

DIVINE Plastic Surgery & Stem Cell Center

ARC Clinics

Radiance Bali

More health andsafety tips.

• Visa & Regulations
• Things to Do

No products in the cart.

Return to shop

Username or email address  * Required

Password  * Required

Remember me Log in

Change Location

Find awesome listings near you.

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

The PMC website is updating on October 15, 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• v.16(8); 2024 Aug
• PMC11393725

Exploring the Frontiers of Health Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Themes and Trends

Alan lukose.

1 Department of Commerce, Prajyoti Niketan College, Pudukad, Thrissur, IND

Sajan N Thomas

2 Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Marian College Kuttikkanam Autonomous, Kuttikkanam, IND

Gibin Jacob

3 Department of Commerce, St. Paul’s College Kalamassery, Kalamassery, IND

Bobby Simon

4 Department of Commerce, St. Thomas College, Pala, Palai, IND

Health tourism, encompassing both wellness and medical tourism, serves individuals seeking preventive care, relaxation, and medical treatments in diverse global destinations. This bibliometric study leverages Scopus for bibliographic data to analyze the scientific production in health tourism. The analysis, conducted using Biblioshiny and CiteSpace, focuses on annual scientific production, identifies the most productive authors, and highlights the most relevant sources. Additionally, the study examines countries’ scientific outputs and provides a historiographic overview of the field. Trend topics and thematic maps visualize the evolution of research themes, while keywords with the strongest citation bursts are identified. Co-citation analysis reveals influential works and collaborations, and a timeline view of country collaborations illustrates the global research network. The study concludes that while health tourism research has significantly expanded, there is a need for longitudinal studies on long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the integration of wellness and medical services, as well as the exploration of ethical and legal frameworks, remain underdeveloped. Practical implications suggest that policymakers should focus on developing uniform regulations and resilient practices to enhance the sustainability and attractiveness of health tourism. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of health tourism research, highlighting critical areas for further investigation.

Introduction and background

Health tourism is an exciting phenomenon that encompasses both wellness and medical tourism, dealing with dimensions of health [ 1 , 2 ]. Wellness tourism includes physical, mental, emotional, occupational, intellectual, and spiritual health, referenced by activities focused on the prevention and promotion of health through fitness, prevention and promotion of health through nutrition, relaxation, indulgence, and healing treatments. Some of the popular spots are Iceland, Hawaii, Bali, and Thailand [ 3 - 5 ]. In contrast, medical tourism entails traveling in search of evidence-based medical services, either invasive or non-invasive, for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation [ 3 , 6 ]. All of these activities take place away from home and are driven by the urge to have affordable and accessible medical procedures unavailable in their countries. These popular destinations include Turkey, India, and Thailand. These approaches make tourism very versatile. Health tourism, driven by increasing awareness of health and a priority on well-being through relaxation and medical care, is very appealing [ 7 ].

Countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, and Turkey are more favored due to the blend of good healthcare services and lower costs. Often, these countries use marketing investments directed at their health services to attract a vast number of international patients [ 8 , 9 ]. For many patients, treatments abroad can be significantly cheaper compared to those sought locally, especially for procedures not covered by their home country’s national health insurance or those that involve high out-of-pocket expenses due to limited or no insurance coverage [ 3 ]. Besides, some destinations are also gaining popularity for offering specific kinds of treatments or therapies that are cutting-edge or difficult to access in a patient’s home country. These include state-of-the-art surgeries, alternative medicine, and holistic treatments [ 8 , 10 ]. Mexico has become a popular destination for medical tourists from the United States and Canada, offering affordable treatments, especially in dental care, cosmetic surgery, and bariatric surgery. The country’s proximity to North America, combined with its robust healthcare infrastructure, makes it an attractive option for patients seeking cost-effective treatments. Portugal, on the other hand, is gaining recognition for its wellness tourism, particularly in spa treatments and rehabilitation services. The country’s scenic landscapes, mild climate, and state-of-the-art facilities provide an ideal setting for patients seeking recovery and relaxation. Both countries have strategically invested in marketing their health services to attract a vast number of international patients, leveraging their unique strengths in the health tourism market.

Health tourism offers numerous benefits, including the promotion, stabilization, and restoration of physical, mental, and emotional health, which enhances overall life quality [ 11 ]. From an economic perspective, it is highly contributing to the development of countries because it provides alternative treatments, creates business activity, generates wealth, and provides employment opportunities, and thus is among the key sectors of the world economy [ 12 ]. Wellness tourism, in particular, aims to improve the quality of life through physically and psychologically healthier citizens with a cleaner environment [ 13 ]. Other than this, medical tourism provides private medical services at reasonable costs, thereby assisting patients in getting the latest treatments at relatively cheaper rates than their countries of origin [ 7 ]. For purposes of safety and security, governments and institutions need to confirm that health services are indeed factual to ensure a secure environment for health tourists [ 14 ].

The challenges of health tourism are multifaceted, involving diverse services and stakeholders, economic and policy issues, and sustainability concerns. In terms of services, contributions by private health units are enormous in areas such as dialysis, orthopedics, oncology, and gynecology [ 15 ]. Moreover, this also requires the integration of healthcare providers, government entities, and the tourism sector [ 16 ]. Critical challenges in economic and policy terms include how high-quality services can be offered at low costs, how touristic and cultural attractions might be exploited to maximum advantage, and how the climatological conditions might be used best to attract tourists [ 15 ]. More broadly, governments seek to foster economic growth while curtailing expenditure on public healthcare. Local perceptions of well-being are, however, often subordinated to the dictates of economics, which complicates sharing benefits equitably [ 17 ]. Hence, sustainable development in health tourism is supposed to cope with these environmental, social, and economic challenges [ 18 ]. Countries like India seek to balance their traditional and modern healthcare advantages against the hurdles to establish themselves as global healthcare destinations [ 2 ].

Bibliometric analysis is a valuable tool, applying the power of quantitative techniques to the academic literature to explain the situation in a specific realm of research [ 19 , 20 ]. This methodology identifies critical areas of research and influential studies, as well as emerging trends, by measures such as publication counts and citation patterns, including authorship networks [ 21 , 22 ]. Such an approach to health tourism would, therefore, be able to trace the evolution of research back to its path, underline the most prolific contributors, and identify the links between the various research themes.

The research questions for the bibliometric study on health tourism aim to explore several critical aspects of the field. What are the primary publication trends in health tourism research, and how have these trends evolved over time? Which authors and journals have had the most significant impact on the field of health tourism, and what are their main contributions? What are the key themes and topics that have emerged in health tourism research, and how have these themes evolved over the decades? What are the main geographical regions contributing to health tourism research, and how do collaboration patterns vary across different countries? Finally, what are the undiscovered research areas in the realm of health tourism research, and what implications do they have for future studies? These questions collectively aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development, influence, and future directions of health tourism research.

Methodology

To conduct a robust bibliometric analysis of health tourism, we employed advanced software tools such as Biblioshiny and CiteSpace. Biblioshiny, an open-source web application with a graphical user interface, facilitates bibliometric analysis and visualization within R, enabling users to explore publication data, perform descriptive analyses, and create scientific landscapes [ 23 , 24 ]. CiteSpace is another powerful tool used for visualizing and analyzing trends and patterns in scientific literature [ 25 , 26 ]. For this study, we utilized the Scopus database due to its comprehensiveness and wide coverage of peer-reviewed literature across disciplines [ 27 ]. Using the keywords “health tourism” OR “medical tourism” OR “wellness tourism,” we retrieved publications without any language restrictions, gathering 3,397 documents from 1,559 different sources spanning the years 1963 to 2024.

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, a three-phase procedure, to select papers for bibliometric analysis. In the first phase, we identified and extracted data from the databases. The second phase involved excluding reviews, editorials, books, short notes, surveys, errata, and retracted articles, retaining only articles, conference papers, and book chapters. The data was saved as a CSV file for further analysis. Figure ​ Figure1 1 illustrates the PRISMA approach used in this selection process. Subsequent analysis was performed using Biblioshiny and CiteSpace to examine annual scientific production, identify the most productive authors, and explore the sources related to our areas of interest. Our scrutiny of scientific publications worldwide allowed us to establish a historical record of what has been produced over time. Additionally, we presented trending topics through a thematic map, analyzed keywords with the strongest citation burst, examined co-cited literature, and visualized country collaboration on a timeline. These analyses provided valuable insights into shifting focus areas and emerging themes in health tourism research, as well as key publications shaping the field and global authorship collaboration.

Primary Information of the Investigation

Table ​ Table1 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the bibliometric analysis of health tourism. The analysis spanned from 1963 to 2024, including a wide range of sources such as journals, books, and other types, totaling 1,559 sources. A total of 3,397 documents were analyzed, with an annual growth rate of 8.68%. These documents were, on average, 6.82 years old, indicating that the research is up-to-date. The average number of citations per document was 14.02 since the start, with a total of 113,311 references across all documents. The documents contained 8,438 Keywords Plus (ID) and 6,805 Author’s Keywords (DE), subsequently representing the breadth of subjects covered within health tourism research. This is based on an analysis of 8,196 authors (697 with single-authored documents). Of these documents, 814 were single-authored, and the average number of co-authors per document was lower at 3.06, indicating a collaborative research environment. Few were international co-authorships (17.9% of documents), reflecting the fact that health tourism research is a global effort. Concerning document types, the analysis involved 2,610 articles and 486 book chapters and conference papers (presenting a wide variety of publication types across fields). The data offer significant accounts of transformations from birth and shaping the health tourism research landscape, highlighting its trends in growth related to collaboration patterns or publication type diversities.

Annual Scientific Production

Figure ​ Figure2 2 shows the overview of all publications on health tourism published from 1963 to 2024. Distinct trends are draftable across these decades. For example, the topic in its early years, 1963-1999, was minimally researched. Publications were few and far between, and there were many years of no activity. Remarkable years for publications were 1963, 1985, 1986, and 1988. From 2000 to 2009, there was a visible increase in articles, especially in 2006, with 16 and dramatic increases by 2009 to 62, which marked a rise in academic interest. Since 2010, there has been a rapid and continuously increasing trajectory of publications, peaking up to 327 articles in 2023 and 160 articles as of June 2024. The health tourism trend rapidly acquires prime importance in the academic and research fraternity due to globalization, improved health trajectories, and growing wellness and medical tourism interests.

Biblioshiny: https://www.bibliometrix.org/home/index.php/layout/biblioshiny.

Most Relevant Authors

Table ​ Table2 2 presents some of the most relevant authors in health tourism research and brings out very insightful data about who has been leading contributions to the knowledge base. In this case, Crooks VA emerged as the most prolific author with 48 publications, denoting strong and sustained interest in health tourism, placing them at the center of the academic discourses. Snyder J follows closely in the second position with 47 publications, marking considerable influence and engagement in increasing inquiry and wisdom accumulation. Further, the critical contributor, Johnston R, has 29 publications, which suggests deep engagement and broad impact on the field. Medhekar A has 19 publications; his work played a significant role in shaping an understanding and developing health tourism research. Next is Ormond M, with 18 publications, making him very active and contributing to the diversity and depth of the area under study. Lunt N has 16 publications that position him as an essential voice, adding valuable insights into the discussion. Horsfall D, with 15 publications, enriches the academic landscape, while both Lee TJ and Turner l feature 14 publications, each of considerable value and breadth. Adams K has 13 publications to make a valuable contribution that underlines their role in developing health tourism research. All authors listed in this section have contributed extensive, impactful publications to help shape discourse, identify trends, and point out critical issues related to health tourism.

Most Relevant Sources

Table ​ Table3 3 lists the most impactful journals in the field of health tourism based on the number of articles published. Leading the list is Sustainability (Switzerland), which has 55 articles, indicating a strong focus on sustainable practices within the health tourism sector. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health follows with 41 articles showing significant engagement with environmental and public health perspectives in health tourism. The International Journal of Spa and Wellness and Tourism Management has published 34 articles each, highlighting their roles in wellness tourism and management practices. The Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, with 33 articles, contributes extensively to geographical and site-specific tourism research. Social Science and Medicine, with 31 articles, integrates social science perspectives with medical tourism. The Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, with 30 articles, emphasizes the marketing aspects of travel and health tourism. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics has 29 articles focusing on health tourism’s business and economic dimensions. The Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research and the International Journal of Tourism Research have 24 articles each, contributing to regional and emerging trends in the field.

Countries’ Scientific Productions

Table ​ Table4 4 presents the scientific production in health tourism by country, highlighting the leading contributors in the field. The United States tops the list with 1,400 documents, demonstrating its dominant role and extensive research output in health tourism. China follows with 781 documents, indicating significant research activity and interest in the field. India is third with 636 documents, showcasing its growing contribution to health tourism research. The United Kingdom, with 529 documents, and Malaysia, with 484 documents, are also notable contributors, reflecting their active research communities. Canada (428 documents) and Iran (392 documents) further illustrate the global interest and scholarly contributions to health tourism. Australia (315 documents), South Korea (313 documents), and Thailand (307 documents) round out the list, emphasizing the international scope and diverse geographical interest in health tourism research. These figures underscore the global engagement and the collaborative efforts of various countries in advancing the field of health tourism.

Historiograph

The historiograph depicted in Figure ​ Figure3 3 is a visualization tool that plots the evolution and connections of the most influential publications in health tourism research. It underlines key elements and thematic evolvement over time. Key publications, such as Connell J 2006 and Mueller HR 2001, appear as larger nodes, thereby portraying their primary nature with a high citation count. Probably, Connell’s contribution laid the ground for essential concepts or frameworks that most of the subsequent studies have built on. The early research by Mueller probably laid the groundwork for further field development. Prominently connected influential authors include Smith PC 2007 and Turner L 2010, whose research was highly cited, hence instrumental in shaping subsequent research publications. Influential publications include those by Han HH 2015, Abubakar AM 2016, and Heung VCS. Moreover, they are located in central and well-connected positions in 2011, which means that these studies contributed much toward pushing forward the health tourism research in the mid-2010s. This historiography strongly marks the different phases of the research focus by having well-defined clusters of topics. The earlier research from 2001 to 2006, represented by Mueller and Connell, addressed definitions in the early stages, economic implications, and early case studies related to health tourism. A marked increase of highly interconnected nodes exists in the 2007-2013 period, showing topic diversification. During this period, critical studies were contributed by Smith, Connell, and Turner, who examined several issues about medical tourism, wellness tourism, and perceptions of patients. Recent development: 2014-2018; authors Han, Abubakar, Ormond; issues explored on ethical considerations, global health, and patient decision processes in contemporary times. This progression highlights the field’s dynamic nature, moving from foundational concepts to more specialized and diversified themes. The historiograph effectively demonstrates how early foundational studies influenced subsequent research, showcasing the cumulative nature of knowledge development in health tourism.

Biblioshiny:  https://www.bibliometrix.org/home/index.php/layout/biblioshiny.

Trend Topics

Figure ​ Figure4 4 illustrates the trending topics over the past 20 years, providing valuable insights into evolving focus areas and emerging themes. From 2005 to 2010, early research topics included “case management,” “nursing care,” “graft survival,” and “economic competition,” indicating a focus on the practical and economic aspects of health tourism, such as the management of healthcare services and economic implications. Terms such as “southern Europe” and “Eurasia” pointed to a geographical interest, while “beneficence” and “ethics” reflected emerging concerns with ethical issues. Between 2010 and 2015, the scope of research broadened significantly to include “health care delivery,” “medical tourism,” “developing countries,” “psychological aspect,” and “legal aspect.” This period saw an increased emphasis on the delivery systems, psychological impacts, legal considerations, and the necessity for international cooperation, as evidenced by the prominence of “international cooperation.” There was also a deeper exploration of ethical implications and financial aspects, marked by an increased focus on “ethics,” “informed consent,” and “health care cost.” From 2015 to 2020, research topics shifted toward a clinical and healthcare focus, with terms such as “clinical article,” “tourist destination,” “healthcare,” “middle aged,” and “young adult” indicating a strong focus on clinical studies, specific demographics, and the role of tourist destinations in health tourism. The emergence of “perception” and “tourism development” suggested an interest in understanding how health tourism is perceived and how it can be effectively developed. Significant research efforts were highlighted by the appearance of “major clinical study.” The years 2020 to 2024 were heavily influenced by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with terms such as “coronavirus disease 2019,” “COVID-19,” and “pandemic” reflecting this profound impact. Emerging topics such as “climate change,” “wellness tourism,” “well being,” and “sustainability” indicated a shift toward sustainable practices and a holistic approach to health tourism. The focus on specific geographical areas and the overarching management and organization of health tourism were evident in terms such as “China,” “Spain,” “tourism,” “health tourism,” and “tourism management.” These trends illustrate a dynamic field that has expanded from practical and economic aspects to include ethical, psychological, legal, and global dimensions, showcasing its adaptability and comprehensive approach to current global challenges and trends.

Thematic Map

The thematic map shown in Figure ​ Figure5 5 illustrates the stage of development and the significance of different themes based on two dimensions: Development level (Density) and Relevance level (Centrality). Motor themes, such as health tourism and medical tourism, are well-developed and central to the research field, indicating they are crucial and have strong internal development. Niche themes, such as cross-border reproductive care, are specialized and well-developed internally but are less central to the overall research field. Basic themes are important foundational aspects of the field. Still, they are not highly developed, while emerging or declining themes, such as transplant tourism, have low centrality and density, indicating they are either emerging or possibly losing relevance. Wellness tourism appears close to the center of the map, indicating it is a balanced theme with moderate development and relevance. This theme includes keywords such as wellness, spa, health and wellness tourism, and spa tourism. Health tourism and medical tourism are highly developed and central to the field, making them the key focus areas in health tourism research. In contrast, cross-border reproductive care is a specialized niche with substantial internal development but less connection to other themes in health tourism. Transplant tourism is an emerging or possibly declining area, indicating it requires more research or might be losing relevance. Overall, this map helps researchers and practitioners understand which areas are well-studied and crucial and which might need more focus or could be emerging trends.

Keywords With the Strongest Citation Bursts

Table ​ Table5 5 presents the top 25 keywords with the most significant citation bursts from 2010 to 2024. Citation bursts indicate periods when specific keywords received a surge in citations, reflecting heightened interest and relevance in the research community. Early in the decade, keywords such as “legal aspect” (2010-2014), “psychological aspect” (2010-2013), “ethics” (2010-2013), and “statistics” (2010-2014) had significant bursts. These keywords highlight the early focus on legal considerations, psychological dimensions, ethical issues, and statistical analyses, which laid the groundwork for more complex discussions in health tourism. Research in the mid-2010s saw sustained interest in themes such as “international cooperation” (2010-2015), “health care quality” (2013-2016), and “statistics and numerical data” (2013-2018), indicating a broader and more collaborative approach to addressing health tourism challenges, with an emphasis on maintaining and improving healthcare standards. In the late 2010s to early 2020s, there was a noticeable shift toward sustainability and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords such as “trends” (2014-2018), “sustainable development” (2020-2024), and “sustainability” (2020-2024) reflect a growing emphasis on sustainable practices within health tourism. The keyword “COVID-19” (2021-2024) had the highest burst strength of 21.36, underscoring the pandemic’s significant impact on health tourism research. Currently, there is a strong focus on keywords such as “tourism” (2020-2024), “health tourisms” (2012-2024), “pandemic” (2020-2024), “wellness tourism” (2021-2024), and “health tourism” (2022-2024). These terms indicate ongoing interest in holistic health, wellness aspects, and the broad impact of pandemics on the sector.

Network Visualization of Co-citation of Cited Authors

The visualization in Figure ​ Figure6 6 illustrates the interconnectedness and thematic organization of influential works through the co-citation of cited authors. The network consists of 15 clusters, each representing a distinct area of focus within the field. Cluster #0, labeled as “medical tourism,” is the largest, with 210 members and a silhouette value of 0.773, indicating it is a well-defined group with substantial research activity. Key contributors to this cluster include Lunt N, Turner L, and Crooks VA, whose work has significantly shaped the field. Cluster #1, “wellness tourism,” with 193 members and a silhouette value of 0.783, also highlights important aspects of health tourism, with major contributions from Smith M, Voigt C, and Mueller H. Cluster #2, “medical tourism destination,” has 148 members and is another central theme, underscored by the influential works of Connell J, Han H, and Heung VCS. Other notable clusters include Cluster #3, also focused on “medical tourism,” with major contributions from Hair Jf, Fornell C, and Parasuraman A. Cluster #4, “Mexican long-haul pleasure traveller,” and Cluster #5, “online discussion forum,” indicate niche areas of research with high silhouette values, suggesting well-defined topics within their scope. Clusters like #7, “cross-border reproductive care,” and #9, “transplant tourism,” highlight the ethical and legal implications of health tourism. The diversity of clusters, ranging from “stem cell tourism” in Cluster #10 to “using authenticity” for competitive advantage in Cluster #15, showcases the breadth of research areas. The presence of comprehensive systematic reviews in Cluster #16 and the emerging focus on “stem cell cure” in Cluster #17 further illustrate the dynamic and evolving nature of health tourism research. This visualization helps identify key research areas and influential works, offers a comprehensive overview of the health tourism research landscape, and guides future research directions.

CiteSpace: https://citespace.podia.com/.

Timeline Network Visualization of Countries ’ Collaborations

The network visualization in Figure ​ Figure7 7 illustrates country collaborations, revealing six major clusters of interconnected and collaborative efforts across nations. The largest cluster, Cluster #0, labeled as “Case Study,” comprises 44 members and focuses on medical tourism and cross-border healthcare directives. Significant contributions from India (286 citations), the United Kingdom (249 citations), and Australia (187 citations) underscore the importance of these countries in researching healthcare-seeking behaviors during travel. Similarly, Cluster #1, “Inbound Medical Tourism,” with 26 members, emphasizes the leading role of the United States (564 citations) in inbound medical tourism research, followed by Canada (142 citations) and Mexico (25 citations). This cluster highlights North America’s substantial contributions to understanding the dynamics of patients traveling to receive medical care. Cluster #2, “European Society,” comprising 25 members, underscores collaborative efforts within Europe, particularly on cross-border healthcare, with notable contributions from Portugal (92 citations), Spain (90 citations), and Italy (62 citations). Cluster #3, “International Tourism,” with 24 members, focuses on sustainable tourism practices post-COVID-19, with key contributions from Turkey (108 citations), Poland (76 citations), and Hungary (54 citations). Cluster #4, “Unmet Need,” comprising 15 members, addresses ethical and legal aspects of medical tourism, with significant contributions from the United Arab Emirates (38 citations), South Africa (37 citations), and Israel (25 citations). Lastly, Cluster #5, “Cultural Diversity,” with eight members, highlights the importance of respecting cultural differences in medical tourism, with Brazil (22 citations) being a significant contributor. Overall, this visualization provides a comprehensive overview of country collaborations in health tourism research, highlighting key players and thematic focuses across different regions, and offering insights into the global research landscape in health tourism.

CiteSpace:  https://citespace.podia.com/.

The historical context of health tourism research reveals a field that has grown substantially over the past decades. Initially, the field saw minimal activity from 1963 to 1999, a period characterized by sporadic publications and limited academic interest. However, the turn of the millennium marked a significant shift, with a notable increase in publications starting in 2000 and peaking in 2009 [ 28 ]. This surge can be attributed to several factors, including the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, which likely heightened interest in cost-effective healthcare options abroad, driving both academic and industry focus on medical tourism [ 29 ]. The continuous rise in publications post-2010 reflects the growing importance of health tourism in the context of globalization, advancements in medical technology, and the increasing accessibility of international travel.

The impact of global events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, has further shaped the research landscape in health tourism. The pandemic has underscored the importance of sustainability and resilience in health tourism practices, leading to a shift in research priorities [ 30 ]. For example, recent studies have focused on the role of telemedicine as an alternative to international travel for medical procedures, the resilience of health tourism businesses during global health crises, and the growing emphasis on local wellness tourism as a safer alternative during periods of travel restrictions. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of health tourism research and its ability to adapt to global challenges. This study does not attempt to reproduce their complete citation networks, rather it focuses on identifying points of intellectual trajectory and topics as they begin a conversation in literature. This study enhances knowledge of discourse analysis for health tourism research by offering an extensive review, playing a guiding role in future studies, and ascertaining the basis on which policy-making decisions may be arrived at using current literature. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of health tourism research, evolving from foundational studies to more complex themes encompassing ethical, psychological, and global dimensions.

Identifying research gaps provides a roadmap for future studies in health tourism. The absence of longitudinal studies examining the long-term effects of health tourism on patients and healthcare systems represents a significant gap in the literature. Moreover, while psychological well-being post-treatment has been acknowledged as important, there is a need for more in-depth exploration of this area. Additionally, the integration of wellness and medical services remains under-researched, despite its potential to offer a more holistic approach to health tourism.

In addressing these gaps, future research could draw inspiration from successful interdisciplinary studies and policy initiatives. For instance, the integration of wellness and medical services in Thailand, where wellness resorts collaborate with local hospitals, offers a model for other regions seeking to enhance their health tourism offerings. Similarly, the development of uniform regulations for medical tourism within the European Union could serve as a blueprint for establishing ethical and practical standards globally. These examples underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and policy development in advancing the field of health tourism.

Research gaps and practical implications

The trend topics analysis and the Thematic map in health tourism research during the past 20 years expose several gaps. First, although the early scientific works were focused on the practical and economic themes of health tourism, such as case management and economic competition, longitudinal studies are strikingly absent on long-term effects and consequences for patients and healthcare systems alike. Second, though the period of 2010-2015 was characterized by strengthened attention to the psychological and legal problems of health tourism, there is a need for further studies examining psychological well-being and satisfaction among patients after treatment. Third, the recent focus on studies in the clinic and specific demographics has not been complemented by comprehensive research into the integration of wellness and medical services that offer a holistic approach to health tourism. Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been well documented, little research examines the long-term implications that the pandemic will have on health tourism and how this may relate to sustainability and climate change.

The findings from the bibliometric analysis provide several practical implications for the future of health tourism. First, further studies with a longitudinal approach are required to theoretically assess the long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction, which can also inform better practices and policies in health tourism. Second, interdisciplinary research that puts wellness and medical services together can give a more comprehensive approach toward health tourism and, hence, enhance its attractiveness and effectiveness. Third, given the increased attention toward ethical and legal matters, policymakers would have to attempt drafting some uniform legislation and regulations for allowing the practice to go forward with ethics and safeguarding the rights of patients in the domain of health tourism. Furthermore, the geographical areas pledging a considerable share in health tourism suggest focused marketing and development policies to materialize the potential therein. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic underlines the need for building resilient health tourism practices to adapt to global health crises and ensure sustainability.

Conclusions

This bibliometric analysis has highlighted the dynamic growth of health tourism research, revealing key contributors, trends, and global collaborations. The rapid increase in publications, particularly in the last decade, underscores the field’s evolving nature, driven by globalization, advancements in medical technology, and rising interest in wellness and medical tourism. However, significant research gaps persist, particularly in understanding long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction. Future research should adopt longitudinal studies and interdisciplinary approaches to explore the integration of wellness and medical services using frameworks such as integrative healthcare models to enhance patient care and experience.

Looking forward, the future of health tourism research should focus on addressing the challenges posed by global health crises and developing sustainable practices. There is a pressing need for uniform guidelines and benchmarks across the sector, particularly in regions such as Mexico and Portugal, where health tourism is rapidly expanding. By embracing a more integrative and sustainable approach, and exploring emerging trends such as personalized and digital health services, the field can continue to evolve and make meaningful contributions to global health and well-being.

Disclosures

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following:

Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work.

Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work.

Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Author Contributions

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data:   Sajan N. Thomas, Shaiju KS, Jacob Bose, Alan Lukose, Gibin Jacob

Critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content:   Sajan N. Thomas, Jacob Bose, Bobby Simon, Gibin Jacob

Drafting of the manuscript:   Shaiju KS, Alan Lukose

Concept and design:   Bobby Simon

Bali’s Boosts Commitment To Zero Emissions But Water Shortages Loom In Top Tourist Destinations

Posted on Published: September 22, 2024

Share The Article

All eyes have been on Bali this week as the province hosts the Bali International Air Show for the first time in 20 years. The massive aviation industry event has seen some huge announcements in terms of Indonesia’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions.

However, with water shortages and droughts on the horizon in top tourism resorts, environmentalists are concerned about the impact of climate change across the region. 

Speaking at the Bali International Air Show earlier this week, the Indonesian Minister for Investment and Maritime Affairs, Luhut Bisar Pandjaitan, announced that the country will be moving towards the use of more sustainable aviation fuels.

In partnership with the central government, airline Virgin Australia, and Pertamina, the move towards more sustainable fuel use in the aviation industry is a big step towards net zero emissions.

The environmentally friendly aviation fuel sources that could be utilized in the future include coconut oil, seaweed, and rice chaff.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bali Airshow (@baliairshow)

Over the last week, 160 kilolitres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel were distributed to Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737 aircraft as part of the Bali International Air Show to be used on flights between Denpasar, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and the Gold Coast. 

It is not only in the aviation industry that Bali is moving towards net zero emissions. Across the province and across industries, climate-focused innovators are creating novel solutions to pressing problems.

In the tourism industry, for example, the newly appointed World’s Best Hotels in the World winner, Desa Potato Head, is pioneering regenerative tourism in the heart of one of Bali’s busiest tourism resorts, Seminyak. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Potato Head (@potatoheadbali)

In Sanur, a resort that has undergone a huge period of renovation and redevelopment over the last five years, environmental sustainability is a hot topic as the area steps into a new chapter as one of Asia’s leading medical tourism destinations.

On Wednesday, 18th September, Sanur welcomed Bali Zero Clean Emission Coalition to host the Bali Action for Climate event, supported by the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia, the Institute of Essential Services for Reform (IESR), New Energy Nexus, and the CAST Foundation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eco Tourism Bali (@ecotourismbali)

Speaking to reporters, Sofwan Hakim from the Bali Zero Clean Energy Coalition shared, “Visibility and sustainable support are very important so that these initiatives can develop and contribute significantly to the goals of Net Zero Emissions Bali.”

The event featured stalls, exhibitions, and presentations from some of Bali’s most impactful environmental projects, including BioRock, which has worked with communities in the tourism village of Pemuteran to restore damaged coral reefs.

FabLab showcased how innovation and creativity can come together to help reduce emissions in the manufacturing industry, and the BioSolar Farm demonstrated how solar can level up the agricultural sector on the island to benefit everyone. 

However, as all these positive steps towards Net Zero Emissions are being taken, the threats of climate change remain very real for both residents and tourists in Bali.

Professor Rumanian Salain, who has been investigating spatial planning in Bali, reiterated this week that the province will face water shortages in 2025. 

In 2021, water needs reached 5.9 million liters a second, and in 2025, the needs are predicted to reach 7.9 million liters a second. 

The Executive Director of the environmental group WALHI, Made Kirsna Dinata, confirmed the latest figures with the media.

He explained, “Hotels are greedy in consuming water. If compared to the need for water from a domestic [resident] they only need 200 liters per person per day.”

At star-rated hotels, the minimum water requirement is 800 liters per room per day.  

Dinata told reporters “the development of these various accommodation facilities will increase the burden and environmental impact, both the transfer of land functions to the ecological crisis and water crisis in Bali.’’

This is why many in Bali support the development of a moratorium to ban the development of new hotels, resorts, and tourism complexes in South Bali for up to ten years. 

Bali is on a mission to promote more culturally respectful and sustainable tourism in the years to come.

Tourists planning visits to Bali can support this goal by choosing hotels and resorts with strong environmental values and policies and choosing activities that support the preservation of local culture.

Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium

Plan Your Bali Holiday: Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties Book Cheap Flights To Bali Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali

For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our  Facebook Community

SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.

Enter your email address