PETALING JAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – Malaysia solidifies its status as the leading destination for Muslim travellers, with over 4.5 million international arrivals in 2023, as reported by the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC).
This marks the ninth consecutive year Malaysia has held the top spot in the Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024 report, released on Thursday (May 30).
Additionally, Malaysia was honoured as the “Top Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year (OIC)” for the second consecutive year at the Halal in Travel Awards 2024 in Singapore.
The influx of visitors contributed significantly to Malaysia’s economy, generating RM14.70 billion in revenue in 2023, according to the ITC press release.
As borders gradually reopen worldwide, the latest GMTI report anticipates substantial growth in the market, with an estimated 230 million Muslim travellers expected by 2028, up from 160 million in 2019.
“Malaysia’s popularity among Muslim travellers stems from its accessibility to Halal food and faith-related facilities and services, beautiful beaches, diverse culture, and incredible shopping experiences.
“Additionally, it offers a wide range of Muslim-friendly tour packages, allowing tourists to experience the country’s rich history, mosque architecture, heritage, gastronomy, nature, arts and culture,” it said.
ITC director-general Nizran Noordin praised the achievement as a recognition of the country’s Muslim-Friendly tourist industry player as he reassured the government’s efforts to further grow the industry.
“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of industry practitioners and stakeholders in advocating for the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) sector.
“We remain dedicated to championing MFTH on both local and global scales,” he said in his acceptance speech at the launch of GMTI 2024 on Thursday.
Nizran also noted the importance of having a standard Muslim-friendly tourism and encouraged all industry players to work with ITC in its efforts to develop the industry.
“I would like to urge industry players to come on board with ITC for this Muslim-friendly marking to champion just one Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition logo.
“We need to establish MFAR as a global brand and common logo that we all can refer to, and market it together to make the world more inclusive,” he added.
