Approaching and developing Halal tourism.

India has a large Muslim population, and the number of Indian tourists visiting Quang Nam is showing good growth. Photo: QT

Halal tourism is a relatively new concept in Vietnam. Halal tourism can be understood as Islamic tourism or tourism that is friendly to Muslims, ensuring that the tourism services provided are in accordance with the specific requirements of Islam. Calculations show that the global Halal tourism market value reached approximately US$266 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach US$276 billion in 2024.

According to the Global Islamic Tourism Index report, the number of Muslim tourists reached 140 million in 2023, an estimated 160 million in 2024, and is projected to reach 230 million by 2028. The spending power of Muslim tourists is increasing, particularly from countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Recognizing the great potential of this tourist segment, the Vietnamese tourism industry has recently organized numerous promotional campaigns to boost the development of the Muslim tourist market in Vietnam. Quang Nam is currently a popular destination for countries with large Muslim populations such as Malaysia, Singapore, and India.

In the first nine months of 2024, Quang Nam welcomed over 44,000 Malaysian tourists (ranking 8th among the top 10 largest international tourist markets), nearly 35,000 Indian tourists, and over 21,000 Singaporean tourists.

Furthermore, Indonesia is a very promising Halal tourism market in Southeast Asia. Quang Nam's tourism industry will also benefit from Da Nang City's active efforts to promote and prepare for the opening of direct flights with Indonesia.

According to research by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Halal tourists tend to travel in large groups or with their families, staying for extended periods (1-2 weeks) at chosen destinations. Halal tourists often prefer visiting places with beautiful natural landscapes or amusement parks for sightseeing…

However, the Halal industry in Vietnam is currently in its nascent stage, lacking a clear strategic direction. Meanwhile, the development of Halal tourism requires a diverse supply of Halal products, ranging from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fashion.

Halal food establishments, which are a crucial element in Halal tourism, are still few and far between, lacking the necessary credibility due to a shortage of international Halal certifications, even in major tourist centers in Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Son Thuy, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Tourism Association, said that one advantage for tourism in localities in particular and Vietnamese tourism in general is the large number of Muslim tourists in some Southeast Asian countries. Simply exploiting nearby markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines would already yield very good revenue before expanding further.

A characteristic of this type of tourist is that once the value chain and "ecosystem" serving Halal tourists are established and perfected, the brand awareness of the destination will spread quite strongly through word-of-mouth from tourists who have experienced it firsthand.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/tiep-can-khai-mo-du-lich-halal-3144841.html