With some 450,000 plus people coming from Indonesia to Penang to seek medical treatment, medical tourism is one of the vital contributing sectors to the state’s economy.

Among the major medical facilities catering for this group include the Adventist Hospital, Island Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and the Loh Guan Lai Hospital.

These numbers were highlighted by the Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia to Penang, Bambang Suharta who also praised Penang’s efforts in combating Covid-19 pandemic.

“With some 450,000 Indonesians coming to Penang for getting treatment in local hospitals every year, the “green zone” status augurs well for those seeking medical relief.” said Bambang.

He paid a courtesy call on Penang State Exco for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Yeoh Soon Hin at his office recently.

Bambang conveyed his wish that normal situations will prevail soon so that the medical tourism sector will be back to normal.

“There are also some 65,000 Indonesian citizens employed in Kedah and Perlis working there and their welfare is under purview,” said Bambang who took office in March this year.

He had also paid courtesy calls to the Governor of Penang and the Chief Minister of Penang.

Yeoh in turn hoped that the “travel bubble” between Penang and the Indonesian cities which are “green zones” can be established to promote tourism.