INDUSTRY PLAYERS NEED TO BE READY FOR POST-COVID TRAVEL TO PICK UP AMONG MUSLIM MARKET

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA, 16 DECEMBER 2020: Islamic Tourism Centre Director-General, Dato’ Dr. Mohmed Razip Hasan said that the Muslim market would likely pick up travel in a big way once the Covid-19 situation improves, and called for destinations and industry players to prepare for the eventual reopening of tourism now.

“It is important for destination marketing organisations (DMOs) worldwide to take into account this market segment when formulating their future strategies,” Hasan said, speaking on Muslim-friendly Tourism at the Uzakrota Travel Summit 2020 held recently in Turkey at a session hosted by Tourism Malaysia office in Istanbul.

He urged industry players to start thinking of how to serve the Muslim tourist market by considering things like making halal or permissible food and prayer facilities easily available. He said: “These needs can be integrated into facilities and attractions like shopping malls, restaurants, theme parks, accommodation, and even at special events. We must continue to provide the necessary infrastructure and facilities to meet the expected numbers of Muslim travellers from around the globe once borders are opened again, as well as fulfilling their faith-based requirements.”

He said there were many opportunities for industry players to cater to the different groups of Muslim travellers such as families, millennials, and newlyweds.

Hasan said: “One of the programmes the Islamic Tourism Centre has initiated is the introduction of the Muslim-friendly Accommodation Recognition. It is an added-value programme for hoteliers to better cater to their Muslim guests, while also serving as an assurance for Muslim guests that the hotel provides faith-based facilities and services.”

In 2019, there was a total of 140 million Muslim tourists, representing 10% of the global travel industry. This number is expected to increase post-pandemic with the Muslim population growing at a rate of 70% compared to the global average of 32%.

Among the Muslim tourist markets known for their high consumer purchasing power are the Gulf Cooperation Council, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Iran, Turkey, Western Europe, and North America markets.

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Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) is an entity under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia tasked to develop the Islamic tourism segment for Malaysia. It advocates for Muslim-friendly tourism by offering research and market intelligence, training, industry development consultation, Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality services standards and certification, and information exchange.

For further details, kindly contact:
Islamic Tourism Centre, Level 13, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia
No. 2 Tower 1, Jalan P5/6, Precinct 5, 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Tel: 03-8891 7177 or via email itc@mymuslimtrip.com/v2