KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is keen to develop its medical tourism especially when there are direct flights from Indonesia.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said Sabah should fully leverage on the current trend of medical tourism as the travellers for that segment would spend for than other visitors.

He added that through the value chain and health tourism industry, it will certainly open up opportunities for tourists to explore the ‘Nature Healing’ Concepted Tourism Location in Sabah.

“We do have quality medical tourism destination and high level of healthcare services.

“I am confident that it is the right time for Sabah to promote the niche market by promoting the latest facilities offered by hospitals especially for the Indonesia market,” he said after meeting with Batik Air chief executive officer Captain Mushafiz Mustafa Bakri in Kuala Lumpur.

Jafry added that Sabah is keen to cooperate with the airline to discuss on direct routes including from Pontianak, Balik Papan and Kalimantan.

He also hoped that the direct flight path can be realised in the near future due to Sabah’s location and ease of access in terms of flight routes among the important factors to attract visitors from neighbouring countries to come to the state.