Cebu, Philippines, 28 January 2026 — Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) marked its presence at the ASEAN Tourism Exchange (TRAVEX) 2026 as part of the Malaysia delegation led by Tourism Malaysia, reinforcing the nation’s position as a leading healthcare travel destination. Held from 28 to 30 January 2026 at the Mactan Expo Center in Cebu, Philippines, the exhibition took place in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026, bringing together key tourism stakeholders from across the region. MHTC’s participation forms part of its ongoing efforts to promote the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, themed “Healing Meets Hospitality.” TRAVEX 2026 is ASEAN’s premier business travel trade exhibition, connecting regional tourism sellers with international buyers through structured, pre-scheduled business appointments. Recognised as Southeast Asia’s flagship tourism trade event, TRAVEX serves as a strategic platform for business matching, industry networking, and the formation of long-term partnerships across the tourism and travel ecosystem.
TRAVEX 2026 is expected to attract more than 300 qualified international buyers from key global markets, reinforcing its position as a high-impact business platform for the regional tourism industry, particularly from India, China, the United States, and ASEAN countries, reflecting sustained demand from both traditional and emerging source markets. The expected presence of buyers from the Middle East, Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand further highlights the event’s extensive international footprint and its ability to connect Southeast Asia with a broad spectrum of long-haul and short-haul markets. Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) will leverage the three-day exhibition to engage directly with a wide spectrum of global industry players. These include tour operators, travel agents and wholesalers, MICE and corporate travel buyers, online travel platforms, and destination specialists, enabling targeted business discussions and the exploration of new opportunities within the healthcare travel segment.
Besides participating during the exhibition, Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has actively initiated several targeted efforts in the Philippines as part of its broader market growth plan. Alongside the three-day TRAVEX 2026 event in Cebu, MHTC conducted an exploratory visit to Manila to strengthen ties with the Malaysian Embassy and leverage its networks for strategic engagements with local officials, media, and key industry stakeholders. This visit was led by MHTC senior leaders and marketing representatives, including the CEO of MHTC, Mr Suriaghandi Suppiah, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Mr Lokman Izam Aziz, the Head of Developmental Market, Mr Hizami Aizat, as well as marketing and communications officers.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi
Head, Communications
+603 8776 6168
Maryam Zainal Abidin
Executive, Communications
+603 8776 6168
About Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council
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://empowerenglish.edu.vn/mhtc/.
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.malaysiahealthcare.org.
