Indonesia Strengthens its Health Tourism with Their New Collaboration Between Tourism and Health Ministries

Published on November 22, 2025

Indonesia is making significant strides to establish itself as a global leader in health tourism with the announcement of a collaboration between the Tourism Ministry and the Health Ministry. The objective of this collaboration was to further improve health tourism services, create an integrated and smooth health tourism experience, and make the country more attractive to foreign medical tourists. With this collaboration, Indonesia will not only be promoting its medical services but also expanding on wellness tourism, which is increasingly in demand by tourists looking for holistic health experiences.

A Strategic Partnership for Health Tourism Growth

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana confirmed that the collaboration reflects the Indonesian government’s commitment to developing a competitive and high-quality health tourism sector. By partnering with the Health Ministry, the government hopes to create a more streamlined and cohesive health tourism industry that can rival global leaders in this sector. This partnership is formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines the key aspects of the collaboration, including policy formulation, the development of health tourism programs, and improving the country’s overall tourism infrastructure to cater to medical tourists.

Addressing the Need for Improved Health Tourism Services

A major goal of the collaboration is to improve health tourism services to meet the growing demand from international tourists seeking high-quality medical care and wellness treatments. Minister Wardhana highlighted the need to resolve long-standing operational issues and enhance efficiency in the sector to ensure that Indonesia remains a top choice for medical tourism. This initiative comes at a time when health tourism is seeing strong growth globally, and Indonesia is eager to tap into the potential for attracting both medical tourists and wellness travelers.

A key aspect of the initiative is the improvement of human resources in the tourism and healthcare sectors, ensuring that health workers, wellness staff, and tour guides are well-trained to meet international standards. Data exchange and the establishment of a dedicated work unit for health tourism are also part of the strategic plan to ensure that the collaboration results in a more robust, competitive, and sustainable health tourism sector.

The Economic Potential of Health and Wellness Tourism

The health and wellness tourism sector in Indonesia is thriving, with the market value of the wellness sector reaching 56.4 billion USD, growing by 6.65% from 2019 to 2023. This growth indicates a growing interest in wellness and medical tourism, with an increasing number of international tourists seeking destinations that offer high-quality healthcare services, including cosmetic treatments, alternative medicine, and therapeutic wellness experiences.

Minister Wardhana pointed out that around two million Indonesians seek medical treatment abroad each year, despite the country’s capacity to offer world-class healthcare. This trend highlights the untapped potential for Indonesia to capture a greater share of medical tourism by focusing on quality care, affordable services, and innovative wellness experiences. By building on its already established reputation for hospitality, Indonesia can position itself as a top destination for medical tourists seeking both treatment and recovery in a culturally rich environment.

A Unique Advantage: Indonesia’s Rich Wellness Tradition

Indonesia offers several unique advantages in the field of health tourism, which can be leveraged to attract global travelers. The country’s traditional herbal practices, mind-body recovery techniques, and natural healing therapies are increasingly sought after by tourists looking for holistic health treatments. Moreover, Indonesia’s landscapes, including beaches, mountains, and forests, provide an ideal setting for wellness retreats that combine healthcare with natural beauty.

The government is focused on promoting Indonesia’s traditional wellness practices, such as Jamu (a herbal medicine), Balinese massage, and mindfulness retreats, which are in high demand among international tourists. These offerings allow Indonesia to carve out a niche in the global wellness tourism market, attracting visitors seeking both physical and spiritual rejuvenation.

Creating a Year-Round Health Tourism Destination

The collaboration between the Tourism Ministry and Health Ministry is not just about attracting tourists for medical procedures but also about creating a year-round destination for wellness tourism. By diversifying health tourism offerings, including hiking retreats, yoga programs, and spa treatments, Indonesia can attract visitors throughout the year, not just during peak tourist seasons.

In the coming years, the tourism sector is expected to grow significantly, with more tourists traveling to Indonesia for health and wellness experiences. The government is also focused on creating multi-activity tourism packages that integrate health tourism with adventure travel and cultural tourism, offering a comprehensive and well-rounded experience for visitors.

Investment in Infrastructure to Support Health Tourism

As part of the initiative, the Tourism Ministry and Health Ministry are focused on improving tourism infrastructure in key destinations known for medical tourism, such as Bali, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta. The government is also working to improve access to medical facilities, enhance the quality of healthcare services, and invest in marketing to raise awareness about Indonesia’s health tourism offerings.

The growth of the health tourism sector is expected to contribute significantly to Indonesia’s national economy, creating new jobs, promoting regional tourism, and boosting the tourism-related services sector. As more international travelers come to Indonesia for healthcare and wellness treatments, the country will benefit from increased spending on hotels, transportation, spas, medical consultations, and other services, further driving the economy.

Looking Ahead: Indonesia as a Global Leader in Health Tourism

With its diverse offerings, strong government support, and growing demand for health and wellness tourism, Indonesia is poised to become a global leader in the sector. The country’s unique combination of modern medical facilities, traditional wellness therapies, and natural beauty gives it a distinct edge in attracting international medical tourists and wellness travelers.

This collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health is a very important step in positioning Indonesia as one of the world’s best destinations for travelers in need of medical treatment, wellness retreats, and holistic healing. With further investment in infrastructure, human resources, and international marketing, Indonesia’s health tourism sector will keep growing, supporting the nation’s economic development while offering an unbeatable health and wellness experience to visitors.