Malaysia Is Top Destination For Muslim Travellers

By Anthony Tan | VIRGIN Communications

email: anthonykhtan@yahoo.co.uk
 

 

Malaysia has emerged as the world’s friendliest destination, according to Singapore-based Muslim travel specialist Crescentrating, which is recognised for its rating standard for halal friendly travel services.

Crescentrating lay claims to having developed the world’s first system to rate travel and hospitality services as well as facilities for halal Compliance which include the availability of halal food or information on halal food and prayer information among others.

Its survey, which evaluate countries in terms of their attentiveness to the needs of Muslim travellers, covers the availability and accessibility to halal restaurants that provide meat slaughtered according to Islamic procedures.

The survey, also looked into the provision of male and female prayer rooms at airports, shopping malls, touristic attraction venues and hotels.

Following behind Malaysia are the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Morocco, Jordan, Qatar and Tunisia in this year’s top 10 rankings for halal-friendly holiday destinations.



Fazal Bahardeen

Crescentrating chief executive Fazal Bahardeen estimated the Muslim travel market at US$140bil (RM453.3bil) last year, accounting for almost 13% of the global total.

 

Non-Muslin countries such as Japan and Singapore have been cashing into the potential of the Muslim travel market, which is expected to increase to US$200bil (RM647.57bil) by 2020.

 

Japan, which improved its ranking to 40th from 50^th place last year, among the 60 countries, represented the biggest improvement overall and was the most active destination last year to focus on the Muslim travellers segment.

 

Bahardeen said the country launched initiatives such as awareness programmes for the local industry and releasing a Muslim travel guide to Japan. Some airports and hotels in Japan have also started to offer halal food and prayer rooms.
 

He said Singapore, the only non-Muslim country which is ranked sixth among the top 10 countries mentioned above, has performed better than even some of the Muslim countries in enticing those who follow the Islamic faith.
 

The island state offers man-made tourist attractions, a wide selection of local food and is renowned for its cleanliness and orderliness.
 

Bahardeen said other non-Muslim countries which have yet to see the potential of Muslim tourists spending are Italy, Belgium, Ireland and Mexico, which are ranked bottom four in its survey.
 

He, however, noticed that an increasing number of destinations have been tapping into the Muslim travel segment and adapting their services to take into account the unique faith-based needs of Muslim travellers.
 

In Malaysia, the Islamic Tourism Centre plays a key role in educating the industry on how to cater to Muslim travellers.
 

There are now more hotel kitchens with halal certification and an increasing number of hotels catering to the specific needs of Muslim travellers.
 

One hotel even has separate timing for males and females requiring privacy for the use of gym and swimming pools, Bahardeen added.