DOT targets growth in Halal tourism to attract more Muslim visitors

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is intensifying efforts to increase tourist arrivals from Muslim countries by actively engaging with hotel operators to promote Halal tourism across the Philippines.

In May this year, the DOT signed an agreement with Megaworld Hotels and Resorts (MHR) to convert all 13 of its properties across the country to become Muslim-friendly.

This collaboration between DOT and MHR focuses on joint marketing, staff training, the development of Muslim-friendly tourism products, and setting standards for Halal tourism.

DOT Secretary Christina Frasco stated that the department is also coordinating with other hotel operators to implement similar initiatives.

In Cebu, while there is currently no Halal-certified hotel or resort, Riza Macaibay, supervising tourism operations officer of DOT-Central Visayas, mentioned that they are encouraging hotels and resorts to apply for Halal certification.

Visitor arrivals from Islamic and Muslim-majority countries saw a significant increase of 120 percent from 2022, reaching 496,724 between January and December 2023.

“This growth signifies our success in creating a welcoming environment for Muslim travelers, which is a key component of our overall tourism strategy,” Frasco said in a Sunstar report.

The Philippines was recognized as the “Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year” for Non-OIC countries at the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2024 in Singapore. This marks the country’s second consecutive win and highlights the DOT’s ongoing efforts to enhance Halal tourism.

Frasco added that the DOT will continue to expand the country’s Halal tourism portfolio by increasing the number of Halal-certified dining options and accreditations, among other initiatives.

As of December 2023, the DOT has recorded 289 Halal-friendly establishments and is working to extend these efforts from Mindanao to other regions nationwide.

“We recently brought the biggest Philippine delegation to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and signed a memorandum of agreement with both Brunei and Qatar to strategically position the Philippines as Muslim-friendly,” Frasco added.

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