Niche to mainstream: Evolution of Halal tourism in global travel industry
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
Muslim-friendly tourism market is expected to grow to $410.9bn by 2032.
The Halal and Muslim-friendly tourism market is expected to grow to $410.9bn by 2032, up from $256.5bn in 2023, according to industry predictions, with popular tourist destinations launching various initiatives to cash in on the rise in demand.
International Muslim tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024 were listed at 80 million, according to Crescent Rating, which said the steep rise is set to continue and figures could reach 230 million by 2028.
Industry experts say the global Islamic Halal economy, which includes investments as well as tourism among others, is set to reach $7.7 trillion this year, more than double the $3.2 trillion in 2015 and significantly higher than the $5.7 trillion it was valued at in 2021.
What is Halal tourism?
Halal is an Arabic term meaning “permitted” and extends to more than just food.
Halal, or Muslim-friendly, tourism would cover everything from halal food, prayer facilities, availability of water in toilets for washing and ablution, gender segregation options, as well as an environment and experience free from “forbidden” acts, including alcohol and gambling.
Why was there a need for halal tourism options?
“Muslim leisure travellers have similar motivations to others. They want to experience the culture of their destination,” Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of Crescent Rating, told Al Jazeera.
“The key difference is that they seek to enjoy these experiences without compromising their basic faith-based needs. It’s not just a form of religious tourism.”
A report by Crescent Rating predicts that the Muslim travel market is expected to reach $300bn by 2026, serving as “a strategic opportunity for destinations and operators to connect with a growing audience”.
Is the Muslim-friendly tourism market spreading?
AbdulMaalik Tailor, CEO and founder of Halal Tourism Britain, reckons Halal tourism “is an untapped market that has potential”.
“Initially, Muslim travellers would only do religious pilgrimages or visit ‘back home’,” he told Al Jazeera. “But as the community grew, especially the younger generations with their surplus spend, it became apparent that their needs had to be catered for.”
Bahardeen says many popular tourist destinations are now “recognising this potential and enhancing their offerings to be more inclusive”.
While Malaysia and Thailand are among the most popular destinations, other popular ones include Singapore, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.
In July last year, Thailand unveiled a halal industry action plan aimed at promoting local products and bolstering industry standards. The country set its hopes on the rising halal industry to help boost to its tourism-reliant economy, which has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reference Link:- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/1/niche-to-mainstream-evolution-of-halal-tourism-in-global-travel-industry
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
