ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Market – By Category (Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism) & Forecast, 2024 – 2032

ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Market Size

The ASEAN medical and wellness tourism market size was valued at USD 51.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to exhibit growth at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2024 – 2032 period. Affordability in treatment options, foreign accreditations of hospitals, and a general rise in disposable income are some of the factors fueling the rapid growth in the market.
 

Additionally, growing government support augments the expansion of medical and wellness tourism via various policies, infrastructure investment, and other joint ventures within the Southeast Asian countries. For instance, Malaysia has rolled out its Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025, which aims to position the country as the hub of interventional cardiology in Asia. In the same vein, Singapore is recognized for its expensive oncology and cardiology medical services which are targeted at international patients.

Furthermore, the increasing number of health tourists is uplifting the tourism market, as tourists seek holistic care that includes treatment, rehabilitation, and medicine. For instance, Indonesia and Thailand are recognized for wellness retreats that combines spa and yoga with medical treatment to recovery. In addition, the region's proximity to major markets like China, Australia, and the Middle East, increase the number of people willing to travel for medical reasons. The strategic location of ASEAN coupled with its attractiveness as a tourist destination, increases the supply from the medical and wellness tourism markets, thus expanding the market further.


Medical and wellness tourism is traveling abroad for medical treatment, surgical services and wellness services like spa and holistic therapy. This type of tourism combines healthcare and leisure, offering patients high-quality, affordable treatments while allowing them to recover in a relaxing and rejuvenating environment.
 

ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Market Trends

There has been an expansion in the market of medical and wellness tourism provided by ASEAN due to the greater number of people seeking these services. Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore provide the most sought-after care with their infrastructure, professionals, and affordability. Regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and other Asian nations rely on ASEAN to provide advanced treatment in fields such as cosmetic surgery, dental work, and fertility.
 

• Several ASEAN many ASEAN countries are integrating the new and old techniques of healing which has led to the development of wellness tourism which is still a developing branch.
   
• The popular options include retreats at spas, detoxification, yoga, and alternative medicine like Ayurveda and traditional Chinese methods.
   
• Countries like Indonesia and Thailand are well-known for their wellness retreats where one can recover while being surrounded by nature.
   
• However, the onset of COVID-19 caused a decline in the marketplace, the gradual resumption of services is boosting hope.
   
• The pandemic gave a firm boost towards healthcare digitalization, telemedicine, and even consultations, which provided a degree of market stability amidst this uncertainty.
   
• The ASEAN is expected to keep growing as they can accommodate many different tourists while also differentiating themselves as safe and dependable places to visit.
   

ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Market Analysis

Based on category, the market is classified into wellness tourism and medical tourism. The wellness tourism segment generated the highest revenue of USD 37 billion in 2023.
 

• The growing increased emphasis on health and wellness comes an increased interest in wellness tourism.
   
• Health is being viewed and defined in broader terms by people, moving away from a narrow medical definition which includes spa treatments, yoga exercises, and other therapeutic activities.
   
• Similarly, the members of the ASEAN region are rich with a wide variety of wellness resources, both in terms of cultures and traditional medicines, spa therapies and modern medicine. This appeals to both domestic and foreign tourists seeking to experience unique services infused with culture and personalization.
   
• In addition, many countries in ASEAN can provide a competitive and high standard of medical and wellness services at a competitive range of low- prices compared to countries in the Western region.
   
• This affordability with comprehensive wellness packaged services makes the region an attractive destination to seek wellness tourism, which in return causes this segment to grow.
   

Thailand medical and wellness tourism market accounted for USD 24.4 billion market revenue in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 13.3% between 2024 – 2032 period.
 

• Thailand’s medical treatment and wellness care tourism industry has developed into a popular global hub for medical tourists due to the sophisticated system of healthcare amenities, low costs, and famous health spas available. Thailand has also emerged in recent years as a medical and wellness tourism leader in Southeast Asia.
   
• This puts Thailand ahead of the rest of the region in catering to medical and wellness tourism as a region for business.
   
• This development is attributed to government supportive policies, investment towards health sector development, and positive hospitality image of the country that puts service at the top of the agenda.
   
• For instance, Bangkok Hospital publicly declared its plans to invest USD 5 million in a new robotic surgery center in 2024 to perform several keyhole surgical procedures and it aims to become more competitive in this segment.
   

Malaysia medical and wellness tourism market accounted for USD 8.3 billion market revenue in 2023 and is estimated to hold substantial share between 2024 – 2032 period.
 

• Malaysia has also made significant advances within the medical and wellness tourism industry positioning themselves as one of the top five countries regarded in Asia for healthcare tourists.
   
• This increased growth of the Malaysian market is the attributed to the combination of high-quality medical services, competitive pricing strategy, government support, and marketing efforts.
   
• For instance, in July 2024, the Malaysian Government instituted the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme, aiming to become the preferred healthcare travel destination in Malaysia during 2021-2025. The program focuses on improving the healthcare infrastructure, service quality, and skills of the health personnel.
   
• Furthermore, the country has a well-developed medical infrastructure supplemented with internationally accredited medical facilities and professional practitioners who qualified from the leading universities from across the world.
   

Vietnam medical and wellness tourism market is projected to grow remarkably in the coming years.
 

• Vietnam has developed a strong medical tourism industry and has made it a point to invest more into healthcare infrastructure within the country facilitating an increase in the international community coming to receive clinical services there.
   
• Key cities such as Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi are becoming medical hubs and offering services such as cosmetic surgery, orthopedic treatment, dental care, and fertility services at low-cost strategically as compared to other countries in Asia.
   
• In addition, the local authorities are spearheading campaigns that further bolster the demand for medical services and products. For instance, in June 2023, the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City together with the Department of Health made a point to have a best practice press conference on primary health care practice with the hope to improve pr in this region by a substantial margin. Furthermore, some of the authorities estimate that the Ho Chi Minh City has immense potential to be the center for medical tourism for patients from Northeast Asia or Europe.
   

Indonesia holds a dominant position in the ASEAN medical and wellness tourism market.
 

• Indonesia is developing as an important market in ASEAN medical and wellness tourism. Improved healthcare facilities, government interest, and rich natural resources that Indonesia has provide a conducive environment for the growth of the medical and wellness tourism industry in Indonesia.
   
• However, despite not having reached the level of medical tourism established by Thailand or Singapore, Indonesia remains competitive on the world stage due to the cost of treatments, large variety of services, and increasing number of health facilities with international accreditation.
   

ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Market Share

The market of ASEAN medical and wellness tourism is dominated by some major companies. This market is very volatile as it has a numerous player, both major organization, local small players, and start-ups. These companies consistently evolved in exploring new opportunities in the market. They are spearheaded by Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., SingHealth Group, Four Seasons Hotels, Marriot International, InterContinental Group, and IHH Healthcare maintaining strong foothold with comprehensive portfolio in medical and wellness tourism with focuses on alternative and traditional methods of treatment.
 

ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Market Companies

Prominent players operating in the ASEAN medical and wellness tourism industry include:

• AEK Udon International Hospital
• Bumrungrad International Hospital
• COMO Hotels and Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels
• Gojek
• Grab Holdings Ltd.
• Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
• IHH Healthcare
• InterContinental Group
• KPJ Healthcare Berhad
• Mahkota Medical Centre
• Makati Medical Center
• Marriot International
• National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara)
• Penang Adventist Hospital
• Radisson Hotel Group
• Raffles Medical Group
• Rosewood Hotel Group
• SingHealth Group
• St. Luke's Medical Center
• Sunway Group
   

ASEAN Medical and Wellness Tourism Industry News:

• In September 2024, IHH Healthcare announced that it has acquired Island Hospital to expand its footprint in Malaysia. This acquisition may enable the company to expand its customer base.
   
• In June 2024, Malaysia’s Sunway Medical Centre adopted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology reporting to enhance medical imaging workflow. This strategy may help the company to gain competitive edge over its peers
   

The ASEAN medical and wellness tourism market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2021 – 2032 for the following segments:

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Market, By Category

• Medical tourism
  • Cardiovascular surgery
  • Cosmetic surgery
    • Breast augmentation
    • Hair transplant
    • Other cosmetic surgeries
  • Orthopedic surgery
  • Oncology treatment
  • Fertility treatment
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Other applications
• Wellness tourism
  • Service
    • Lodging
    • Transport
    • Wellness activities
    • Other services
  • Travel type
    • Domestic
    • International
  • Travel purpose
    • Primary
    • Secondary

The above information is provided for the following countries:

• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Vietnam
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Brunei