Malaysia Maintains Position as Top Halal Travel Destination

Malaysia has held the best place due to the fact the start of the index in 2015. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia took joint next posture this 12 months.The GMTI displays the all round efficiency of the Muslim travel current market.

Tourism, Arts and Lifestyle Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri mentioned the state is honoured to be named the prime Muslim-welcoming place at the time once more.

“We continue being devoted in advocating for Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality in the area and global scale,” she reported for the duration of her keynote handle.

Nancy also highlighted the great importance of sustainable tourism throughout the occasion, which was broadcasted virtually.

“Eventually, in this day and age, tourism isn’t just about generating travellers experience excellent, but it’s about the transformative prospective of tourism to everyone who has a stake in this marketplace – every person from the tourist, the investor, the industry participant, the community, the govt, the nation, and much more,” she stated.

In accordance to Nancy, Islamic tourism reflects the values of sustainable tourism.”It promotes sustainability in lots of varieties, from financial, social and non secular sustainability to environmental, cultural and heritage sustainability,” she reported.

A fragile rise

The index was exposed in conjunction with the Halal In Journey-International Summit 2022 that was held in Singapore a short while ago.

MasterCard and CrescentRating documented that prior to the pandemic, the Muslim traveller market place exhibited a powerful advancement with 108 million Muslim travellers in 2013, jumping up to 160 million in 2019.

The most up-to-date GMTI report uncovered that this industry is envisioned to select up all over again now that international borders are reopening, with a forecast of 230 million Muslims travelling by 2028.

In Malaysia, the Muslim traveller current market contributed to 5.3 million global arrivals with an expenditure of RM16.72bil in 2019.

CrescentRating founder and main executive officer Fazal Bahardeen, in the report’s foreword, warned that the momentum could be disrupted by a number of world occasions that are currently taking spot.

“This restoration method is fragile and could be disrupted by the continuing war in Ukraine, gas cost raises, and other health threats this kind of as the emerging monkeypox or Covid-19 variants,” he stated.

Nonetheless, Fazal remained optimistic about the world-wide expansion of Muslim vacation.

“We continue to be optimistic that economies will recuperate shortly from the pandemic’s damage to life and livelihoods. In addition, as the travel field gears up for quarantine-no cost worldwide vacation, we believe that the Muslim vacation sector could lead immensely to accelerating the restoration,” he explained.

He extra that it truly is crucial for stakeholders to focus on essential motorists that will propel the halal journey market place forward in its future enhancement section.

“Gen Z, millennials, and females are the most influential and expanding demographic within just the Muslim inhabitants. 70% of the approximated inhabitants of two billion are under 40 many years with Gen Z and millennials symbolizing 50% of the inhabitants.”In addition, females travellers represent one of the fastest-developing segments in just the Muslim travel marketplace. They make up around 45% of the world Muslim arrivals,” he explained.

Much more significant vacations

The GMTI 2022 also pointed out that meaningful vacation in the Muslim journey place is gaining momentum, as youthful Muslims are on the lookout for personalized enhancement although checking out the globe.

“The relevance of offering back to the community and safeguarding the surroundings to preserve natural sources is basic to the aims of the faith. In addition, the lockdown throughout the pandemic and the damage it did to the lives and livelihoods has even more increased the awareness of currently being local community and socially acutely aware even when touring,” the report reported.

Islamic Tourism Centre director-normal Datuk Dr Mohmed Razip Hasan stated the modern-day Muslim traveller now has extra complex demands.

“Muslim travellers now look for meaningful and transformative activities that will hopefully lead to their growth as human beings upon returning to their homeland,” he mentioned.

And destinations really should answer appropriately to these new requirements of Muslim travellers.

“Place administrators could generate worth for this distinct group of Muslim holidaymakers by offering them to indication up for volunteer programmes at the location they are traveling to, mingle and socialise with the community community and get themselves associated in things to do like likely to spiritual classes and becoming a member of local community clean up programmes,” he discussed.

Attending to the demands of the fashionable Muslim travellers will make businesses applicable, explained Mastercard division president (Southeast Asia) Safdar Khan.

“With the increase of environmental sustainability, corporations should search outside of building personalised journey ordeals, and think about how they may possibly integrate sustainability in their offerings.

“Asia Pacific is renowned for its reputation with Muslim travellers. As queues and crowds once once again turn into a familiar sight at airports, it is vital to glance at the altering nature of journey, and the shifts in the demographics of Muslim travellers owing to the mounting affect of Gen Z, millennials, and women,” he stated.

At the identical time, Safdar reminded stakeholders to emphasis on tourism’s biggest advertising issue – encounters.

“As travel starts off to take off again, it appears to have taken on a new that means – individuals don’t just want to see the entire world, but fairly, they want to experience the environment,” he claimed.

Source: The Star