The United Arab of Emirates has ranked first in the global assessment of travel destinations with the best developed Halal ecosystems, according to the 2016-2017 Global Islamic Economy Report, developed and produced by Thomson Reuters.
The UAE is followed by Malaysia and Turkey in the global ranking system that evaluated the countries based on four criteria: inbound Muslim travel, the quality of their Halal-friendly ecosystems, awareness campaigns, and the sector’s contribution to employment.
Mohammed Saleh Badri, Secretary-General of the International Halal Accreditation Forum, said, "The study has also proven that more and more Muslims are showing strong preference for Halal destinations and travel services. Today, it is becoming more important for us to look into the industry and bridge the emerging gaps."
Valued at US$151 billion in 2015, the Muslim travel market is steadily expanding, marking a year-on-year growth rate of 4.9 percent, even higher than the overall travel industry growth of 3 percent.
The Muslim market, 72 percent of which originates from OIC countries, is the second largest travel market next only to China ($168 billion) and ahead of the United States ($147 billion).
"This upward trend presents good business opportunities for the industry. However, stakeholders should start addressing challenges to make the most of the momentum and boost tourism activities," Badri said.
The key challenges affecting the industry are mainly rooted in relatively weak awareness campaigns, the study showed.
"We have to note that not everyone understands how Halal travel services work, and what makes each component 100 percent Halal. It is every industry stakeholder’s responsibility to assure travelers that what they are availing of is absolutely Halal," Badri explained.
"Muslim travelers and Halal consumers are constantly looking for Halal-certified leisure destinations they can trust. Unified standards should be in place in order to satisfy the needs of holidaymakers requiring Halal products and services," Badri added.