The state can tap the huge potential in cosmetic surgery now trendy in the West and in China.

State Tourism (Marketing & Develop-ment) sub-committee chairman Looi Swee Cheang said as our per capita income increased, there was more awareness among the people to look beautiful.

"The trend worldwide especially in the West and in countries like China has seen a surge in the number of people going for cosmetic surgery to look good and feel confident."

“We too are slowly but surely adapting this trend here,'' he said.

Looi said between 20% and 30% of patients in private hospitals here were foreigners who arrived under the state medical tourism promotion.

“Soon, foreigners will start flocking to Penang to undergo cosmetic surgeries,” he said at a press conference yesterday.