Indonesia’s Halal Tourism Push: 15 Provinces Named Muslim-Friendly Destinations
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana in a statement on Thursday said the 15 provinces are identified as having strong potential for Muslim-friendly tourist destinations based on the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI), which is compiled based on the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).
The provinces considered to have the potential to become Muslim-friendly tourist destinations include Aceh, Riau, Riau Islands, West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
To support the development of these provinces as Muslim-friendly tourist destinations, the ministry is incorporating events and activities aimed at attracting Muslim travelers into the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program.
Events such as the Aceh Ramadhan Festival, Aceh Culinary Festival, Muslim Life Fest, Balangan Islamic Festival, Batam Takbir Parade, and Batam Wonderfood & Art Ramadhan are expected to attract Muslim tourists, Wardhana noted.
She added that a dedicated Muslim-Friendly Travel page has been launched on Indonesia.travel to facilitate Muslim tourists in obtaining information about destinations, event calendars, places of worship, and Muslim-friendly tour packages.
The Indonesian government also supports the diversification of Muslim-friendly tourism products to meet the needs and preferences of Muslim travelers worldwide.
"Indonesia's Muslim-friendly tourism products are also continuously being diversified, ranging from religious tourism and halal culinary experiences to spiritually-based wellness," the minister conveyed.
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Furthermore, the ministry is strengthening the capacity of tourism businesses, implementing business mentoring programs, and expanding market access and financing for providers of Muslim-friendly tour packages.
Wardhana noted that Indonesia has the potential to increase Muslim tourist arrivals from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states amid ongoing geopolitical developments in the region.
Saudi Arabia is projected to continue contributing significantly to Muslim tourist arrivals in Indonesia due to its well-established and strong flight connectivity.
In addition to seeking to attract tourists from countries with large Muslim populations such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, the ministry is also targeting countries outside the OIC with a high demand for Muslim-friendly tourism.
Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia, and New Zealand are among the countries considered potential Muslim-friendly tourism markets.
Source: en.antaranews.com
