1. Islamic Tourism from an Academic Perspective
Hussain Sunny Umar

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

3. Sharia-compliance tourism
Definitions
Purposeful tourism
Religious tourism
Sharia-compliance tourism
Halal Tourism

4. 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)

5. 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

6. Significance of the Muslim Travel Market

7. Muslim population 1.62 billion (25%)
Halal industry US$ 2.3 trillion
49 Muslim Majority countries
Indonesia 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

9. Top Muslim Travel Expenditure Source Countries

10. Muslim Travel Preferences
Halal Food 67% Overall price 53% Muslim-friendly experience 49%

11. 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

12. 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

13. Conferences – JoSIT, OIC & HTC
Hotels – Sultan Beach Hotel (Turkey), Rayhaan Hotels (Saudi), Grand Nile Tower (Egypt) & Caprice Gold (Maldives) over 637 rooms

14. Caprice Gold Maldives
A project worth US$ 170 million

15. Islamic tours – Shouq travel (Egypt), Crescent Tours (UK) & Luxury Travel (Vietnam)
Website – Crescent rating (Singapore) & ITC (Malaysia)
Halal Trip vs Trip Advisor

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

17. The Maldives

18. Eriyadu Island Resort

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

20. THANK YOU