KUALA LUMPUR: The government today proposed an allocation of RM2 billion in 2018 Budget as tourism fund to provide loans for operators next year.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the fund to assist the small and medium-scale enterprises would provide loans at subsidised interest rate of two per cent.“Of the amount, RM1 billion will be allocated for Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund as soft loans,” he said.Najib said RM500 million would be used for development and promotion activities through improved tourism facilities, homestay and eco-tourism programmes.He said the government also proposed to expand eVisa regional hub to ease visa applications worldwide especially to expatriates, foreign students and Malaysia My Second Home programme.He said RM30 million would be allocated to boost end-to-end service in medical health tourism as well as promote In Vitro Fertilisation technology to Asia to be managed by Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.Source: New Straits Times
shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at
Asst. Manager, Communications
+603 8776 6168
rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 80 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy. More information can be found at https://www.mhtc.org.my/.
