Halal travel accolade to ‘energize’ Philippine tourism

MANILA: A newly won award at this year’s Halal in Travel Global Summit is expected to further motivate Philippine industry stakeholders to cater to visitors from Muslim and Middle Eastern countries, tourism authorities said on Saturday.

The Philippines was recognized as an Emerging Muslim-friendly non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation Destination at the summit held by Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index in Singapore on May 30.

The index is an annual report benchmarking destinations in the Muslim travel market.

“Being recognized by the world’s leading halal travel authority is definitely a big boon for the Philippines,” Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Abubakar told Arab News.

“It would definitely energize our tourism stakeholders, incentivize our partners and ensure that the Philippines rises as a preferred destination for Muslims, including those in the Middle East.”

The award, she said, was also a recognition of the country’s efforts to cater to the needs of Muslims.

In 2023, the Philippines also won the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination award at the Halal in Travel Global Summit, and has since boosted efforts to attract visitors from the Middle East and neighboring Muslim-majority Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, particularly by ensuring that Muslim tourists have access to halal products and services.

The predominantly Catholic country — where Muslims constitute about 10 percent of the almost 120 million population — welcomed more than 2 million international travelers since the beginning of the year and marked a 10 percent increase in visitors arriving from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE — which are among the Philippine government’s key emerging-market targets.

Earlier this month, the Department of Tourism led a delegation to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, where it promoted the country’s best destinations, and signed an agreement with one of the largest Philippine hospitality chains to turn its properties into Muslim-friendly and halal-friendly establishments.

“As a country known for its warm hospitality, rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural attractions, catering to the needs of Muslim travelers through the development of halal tourism is crucial in ensuring that we raise our competitiveness in the global tourism market,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement welcoming the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination award.

“Adapting to the changing needs of Muslim travelers by offering halal-friendly accommodations, dining options, prayer facilities and other services not only enhances the overall visitor experience, but also showcases our respect for diverse cultural and religious practices.”