Indonesia to Promote Halal Tourism

A new guide is currently being drafted. It will help state and further develop halal tourism across the country with almost 88 percent of the citizens identifying themselves as Muslims. 

The Tourism Ministry is optimistic about the potential of halal-standard tourism though at the moment not many regions of the country have embraced it. The Ministry believes the new guide will help promote the idea of halal tourism and accelerate its growth in Indonesia. 

The halal tourism guide will cover four areas: destinations for halal tourists, marketing, industry and institution. It will be based on the best global tourism standards and strategies like good service and pricing.

Parallel to the guide, halal tourism certification will be implemented in four business sectors: gastronomy (restaurants, cafes, markets), accommodation (hotels and resorts), travel agencies and spa (spas and massage shops).

As Indonesia's majority population is Muslim, there are discussions whether halal certification is necessary. Yet the Ministry is sure that setting halal standards will push all the players and service providers to improve their quality.

Interestingly, only 20 percent of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia are Muslim. At the same time by some unknown reason, neighboring Singapore habitually welcomes higher numbers of Muslim travellers.

Source