Jakarta (TAN): The Riau administration is planning to develop the Sumatra central east coast province as a halal tourism destination and local enterprises are lining up to get government-certified so that they get more business.
Riau governor Syamsuar said he expected halal tourism to help the local economy. He said: “I’ve signed a gubernatorial instruction establishing Riau as a halal tourism destination.”
Incidentally, Indonesia shares the top spot in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2019 with Malaysia. The report, which was published earlier this month, includes 130 destinations around the world, both within and beyond the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
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“I hope the (halal tourism development) plan comes with an incentive that allows local businesses to apply for halal certification more easily,” a report in The Jakarta Post quoted Riau business owner Zamzami as saying about the governor’s initiative.
Indonesia has reached the top spot on the index “through the sustained efforts by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism to invest in its tourism and travel industry, and develop Muslim-tourist friendly infrastructure”, a CrescentRating statement said, adding that by 2026, the Halal tourism’s contribution to the global economy is expected to jump 35 per cent to USD 300 billion.
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The statement listed five Halal Travel Development Goals. These are:
1. Integration, Diversity and Faith: Enable Muslims to be active citizens of the global community while remaining spiritual.
2. Heritage, Culture and Connection: Connect Muslim travelers to one another, to the local community, and to the heritage and history of their chosen destination.
3. Education, Insights and Capabilities: Enhance understanding among communities. Increase academic and industry knowledge that can improve the capabilities of stakeholders.
4. Industry, Innovation and Trade: Create new opportunities to increase commerce through tourism and drive growth across multiple sectors.
5. Well-Being and Sustainable Tourism: Recognize the responsibilities of stakeholders in the travel sector and the social impact on travellers, the wider community and the environment.
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