ISLAMIC TOURISM FROM AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE

Hussain Sunny Umar

Presentation Outline• Definitions • Significance • Evolution• Developments• Challenges • Tourism Sharia requirements • Maldives• Eriyadu Island Resort

Definitions• Purposeful tourism• Religious tourism

• Sharia-compliance tourism• Halal Tourism

Preferred Definition• A form of tourism targeted to Muslim community who

wishes to indulge the services, facilities and activities compliant with Islamic principles – Henderson (2010)

Sharia Requirements• Prohibition of alcohol, pork, gambling and prostitution• Prayer facilities (place, Quran and Qibla)• Halal food and drinks and toiletries • Bed and bathroom should not be position in the direction of Makkah

and availability of bidets• Appropriate entertainment (TV, music, etc.)• Art depicting human and animal form is prohibited• Predominantly Muslim staff• Appropriate staff dress code and flexible work hours in Ramadan • Segregated facilities for men and women (pool, spa, gym, buffet, etc.)• Islamic funding (Islamic finance) and philanthropic donations (Zakat

and Sadaqa)• Ethical marketing and promotion and Corporate social responsible

strategies

Significance of the Muslim Travel Market

• Muslim population 1.62 billion (25%)• Halal industry US$ 2.3 trillion• 49 Muslim Majority countries• Indonesia - 205 million people• Muslim travel market – US$ 137 billion (exc. Hajj &

Umrah)• 57 OIC countries – 82% expenditure • GCC represents 3% - Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait,

Bahrain, Oman & Qatar• GCC - 31% travel expenditure

Global Muslim Market United States Germany China United Kingdom France

$137

$122

$95 $89

$65

$52

Spendings of Tourists (US$ Billion)

Spending

Top Muslim Travel Expenditure Source Countries

Iran Saudi Arabia UAE Kuwait Indonesia Qatar Malaysia Russia Germany France United Kingdom

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

18.2

17.1

10.1

7.4 7.2

5.75.4

4.13.5

2.52.2

Muslim Travel PreferencesHalal Food 67%

Overall price 53%

Muslim-friendly experience 49%

Evolution of Islamic Tourism

• Post 9/11 incident • Clamped Muslim entering Europe and US• Rise of Intra-tourism (within Middle East)• Jawhara Hotels, Shaza Hotel, Almulla • Rise of Sharia-compliance hotels in Asia• De Palma hotel & Sofyan Hotel

Islamic Tourism Developments

Islamic Conferences, Programmes, Seminars and

Magazines

Islamic Floors, Hotels, Resorts, Apartments, Cruise Ships and Medical Tourism

Islamic Airlines, Airports and Highways

Islamic Tours, Websites and Apps

• Conferences – JoSIT, OIC & HTC

• Hotels – Sultan Beach Hotel (Turkey), Rayhaan Hotels (Saudi), Grand Nile Tower (Egypt) & Caprice Gold (Maldives) over 637 rooms

Caprice Gold Maldives

A project worth US$ 170 million

• Islamic tours – Shouq travel (Egypt), Crescent Tours (UK) & Luxury Travel (Vietnam)

• Website – Crescent rating (Singapore) & ITC (Malaysia)

• Halal Trip vs Trip Advisor

Challenges

• Varying School of thought • Difference in Sharia standards• Sharia hotels vs dry hotels (alcohol free)• Operation & Management costs

The Maldives

Eriyadu Island Resort

• Halal food• Direction of Qibla• Prayer facility• Mosque • Separate spa hour for female• Bidets • No gambling, adult channels or

prostitution

Halal Facilities

THANK YOU