Asia targets medical tourism boost from Trump travel ban

 01-Feb-17, The Daily Star

Seeking to capitalize on US President Donald Trump's controversial new travel restrictions, companies and officials in Asia said they would target greater tourism and education ties with Muslims worried about the curbs. Trump's directive put a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Image: Reuters

In Muslim-majority Malaysia, the group CEO of AirAsia suggested countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could cash in. 

Malaysia is a key destination for medical tourism. In neighboring Thailand, tourism officials said the US ban could lift visitor numbers. "The Middle East is a big market for us, especially in the medical tourism sector. They may choose to visit Thailand more and this may also boost our sector," Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said.

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