FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

How fast time flies! We are now in the year 2021 after enduring a very challenging 2020. Many industries were affected by the pandemic, and the global tourism economy, unfortunately, was not spared either. 

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals declined by 72 per cent between January and October 2020 due to the pandemic, low travel confidence, and international closure of borders.

Nevertheless, we need to continue our efforts to revitalise the tourism sector with the best possible preparation. Insha Allah, our preparation now is for a time later when the availability of effective vaccines and the opening of borders can boost the tourism sector again.

Despite the gloomy situation, Malaysia received good news that it was crowned as best Muslim-friendly destination in the world in the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2020/21 report by DinarStandard. This gives us hope to continue our efforts moving forward.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic enveloped every economic space this year, Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) has moved forward with a shift in perspective that is “New thinking, new actions, new results.” We wish to be more focused on cooperation with stakeholders, strengthening ties with industry, and strengthening ITC branding at home and abroad. We hope that our new communications channels such as blog and e-newsletter will be some of the platforms to help us do just that.

Although we have been constrained in many ways due to the spread of the pandemic, ITC is happy to have been able to implement several key initiatives last year, namely: 

• Collaboration with Al-Hijrah TV and Karangkraf media group to organise the World Quran Hour
• Strengthen industry linkages with INCEIF, COMCEC, SESRIC, SIRIM, and the Department of Standards
• Development of a new Muslim-friendly training module to address service standards to welcome visitors at mosques
• Development and launch of the Muslim-friendly Accommodation Rating (MFAR)
• Recognition of ITC as a training provider under the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) in July 2020
• Organising the Muslim-friendly Tourist Guide Refresher Course on 22 Sep
• Publication of the Islamic Tourism Journal Vol. 1/2020
• Participation as keynote and panel speakers in webinars / virtual conference sessions organised by local and foreign institutions such as:1. Langkawi Tourism and Hospitality International Conference 2020 (LTHIC2020), 27 Sep 2020
  2. Tourism Promotion Organizations Regional Meeting (Seoul), 21 Oct 2020
  3. Malaysia Tourism Council Tourism Gold Summit, 11-13 Nov
  4. Uzakrota Travel Summit 2020 (Istanbul), 1 Dec 2020

ITC wishes to thank all our partners and friends for their support and collaboration in facing a tough 2020. We hope to deepen our relationship with you this year through several more of ITC’s activities including training, industry development, research, consultancy work, and more.

I wish everyone a safe and productive year ahead. 

Dato’ Dr. Mohmed Razip Hasan
Director General, Islamic Tourism Centre