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
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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
Spendings of Tourists (US$ Billion)
$137
$122
$95
$89
$65
$52
GLOBAL MUSLIM MARKET
UNITED STATES
Global Muslim Market
GERMANY
United States
CHINA
Germany
China
UNITED KINGDOM
United Kingdom
France
FRANCE
Top Muslim Travel Expenditure Source
Countries
20
18.2
18
17.1
16
14
12
10.1
10
8
7.4
7.2
5.7
6
5.4
4.1
3.5
4
2.5
2.2
2
0
Iran
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Kuwait
Indonesia
Qatar
Malaysia
Russia
Germany
France
United
Kingdom
Muslim Travel Preferences
Halal Food 67%
Overall price 53%
Muslim-friendly experience 49%
Evolution of Islamic Tourism
• Post 9/11 incident
• Clamped Muslim entering Europe and US
• Rise of Intra-tourism (within Middle East)
• Jawhara Hotels, Shaza Hotel, Almulla
• Rise of Sharia-compliance hotels in Asia
• De Palma hotel & Sofyan Hotel
Islamic Tourism Developments
Islamic Airlines,
Airports and
Highways
Islamic Floors,
Hotels, Resorts,
Apartments, Cruise
Ships and Medical
Tourism
Islamic
Conferences,
Programmes,
Seminars and
Magazines
Islamic Tours,
Websites and
Apps
• Conferences – JoSIT, OIC & HTC
• Hotels – Sultan Beach Hotel (Turkey), Rayhaan Hotels (Saudi),
Grand Nile Tower (Egypt) & Caprice Gold (Maldives) over 637
rooms
Caprice Gold Maldives
A project worth US$ 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
Halal Facilities
• Direction of Qibla
• Prayer facility
• Mosque
• Separate spa hour for female
• Bidets
• No gambling, adult channels or
prostitution
THANK YOU