JAKARTA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is planning to become a regional hub for health and wellness tourism with the development of the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bali, the country's first integrated destination combining healthcare, wellness, and hospitality facilities.

President Prabowo Subianto, who inaugurated the SEZ on June 25, hailed the project as a historic breakthrough in Indonesia's healthcare journey.

Prabowo said many Indonesians currently seek medical treatment abroad, leading to considerable foreign exchange outflows. He said the establishment of the SEZ is expected to help address this issue by providing healthcare services comparable to the world's best standards within Indonesia.

Located on 41.26 hectares in South Denpasar, the Sanur SEZ integrates international-standard hospitals, five-star hotels, wellness facilities, and cultural spaces.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, who attended the inauguration, said that the establishment of the Sanur SEZ would accelerate the development of health tourism in Indonesia, noting that the SEZ is expected to foster a health tourism ecosystem that supports a comprehensive patient experience -- from initial procedures through full recovery.

The Sanur SEZ, developed by state-owned aviation and tourism holding company PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (InJourney), through its subsidiary InJourney Hospitality, is designed as a fully integrated ecosystem featuring Bali International Hospital, Alster Lake Clinic, The Meru Sanur and Bali Beach Hotel, as well as the Bali Beach Convention Center and a 4.9-hectare Ethnobotanical Garden.

The Bali International Hospital, spanning 50,000 square meters across four storeys, serves as the project's medical anchor, offering Centers of Excellence in cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and orthopedics.

During a recent media visit to the Sanur SEZ's key facilities, InJourney President Director Maya Watono said the project reflects Indonesia's determination to advance its healthcare and tourism sectors simultaneously.

She added that the SEZ is expected to deliver significant economic benefits, including the creation of 18,375 new jobs, retention of 86 trillion rupiah in foreign exchange, and additional inflows of 19 trillion rupiah by 2045.

"With health tourism growing over 12 percent annually in Southeast Asia, Sanur's integrated model will help Indonesia tap into this expanding market," she said.

InJourney Hospitality CEO Christine Hutabarat said the Sanur SEZ was also designed to empower communities. According to her, the SEZ provides local micro and small enterprises and communities with dedicated spaces to showcase traditional crafts, culinary offerings, and cultural products tailored to modern tourist preferences.

When fully operational by mid-2027, the Sanur SEZ is expected to handle up to 240,000 patients annually, serving both domestic and foreign visitors. ■