Malaysia Becomes Hub of Medical Conferences

Asia’s burgeoning medical tourism industry, expected to be worth at least USD 4 billion by 2012, is proving a windfall for the travel and hospitality sectors. The lure of value-for-money, quality healthcare in Asia is estimated to be attracting more than 1.3 million tourists a year to key locations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and India. According to online investment news source, Nuwire Investors, Malaysia is among the world’s top five medical tourism destinations for medical tourists and foreign investors.

In tandem with the country’s growing reputation on the world healthcare map is increasing recognition by a number of international and regional medical associations of Malaysia as an ideal destination for their respective meetings and conventions.  The success of one of the world’s largest medical congresses in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006, the XVIII FIGO World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) spurred an influx of enquiries from global medical associations. 

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre), as FIGO’s host venue, has thus benefited from this and 2009 will see over 13,000 delegates converge there for a host of medical-related events that will cover the latest developments, challenges and much more, in disciplines ranging from hypertension and urology to military medicine, stem cells and immunity, spine surgery and healthcare.