EXPLORING MEDICAL TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS IN MALAYSIA, THAILAND, AND SINGAPORE: THE INDONESIAN TOURISTS’ PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore are popular destinations for affordable and high-quality medical treatment in Southeast Asia. However, there is limited research on the competitive advantages of these countries as medical tourism destinations. This study compares the competitive advantages of Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore as medical tourism destinations. The interviews were conducted among 49 Indonesian patients who patronised Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore for medical tourism services. Based on the study’s findings, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore have several competitive advantages as medical tourism destinations. Malaysia’s main competitive advantage is its affordability. In contrast, Thailand’s main competitive advantage is its reputation as a hub for medical tourism, with a well-established and extensive network of hospitals and medical facilities. Meanwhile, Singapore’s main competitive advantage is its reputation for offering world-class medical services, with advanced medical technologies and highly trained medical professionals. At the same time, limited availability of halal foods is their limitation. Policymakers and healthcare providers could consider the study findings in developing and implementing strategies to enhance their competitiveness as medical tourism destinations. Notbaly, the identified contrasts between Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand could be marketed to help prospective medical tourists make informed decisions when choosing a destination for medical treatment.