Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT):
Understanding the Supply and Demand Sides
In the OIC Member Countries
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overall index score for each destination. These criteria are:
Suitability as a holiday destination, family friendliness and safety
 Muslim visitor arrivals
 Family-friendly holiday destination
 Safe travel environment (both general safety and Islamophobia)
Muslim-friendly services and facilities available at the destination
 Dining options and Halal assurance
 Ease of access to prayer places
 Airport services and facilities
 Accommodation options
Halal awareness and reach out to Muslims by the destination
 Muslim travel market awareness and reach out
 Ease of communication
1.3 Proposed Definition and Terms for MFT
It is evident from the faith-based segmentation of the Muslim travelers that Muslim Friendly
Tourism refers mainly to travelers who fall into the categories of Segment A and Segment B.
Based on the above discussions, the terminology referred to in section 1.1 is not suitable. As
such, the study proposes the following definitions to capture the whole spectrum of segments
and services that are linked to “Muslim Friendly Tourism”. Section below defines the
terminology on the overall Muslim/Halal travel market with specific terms.
Muslim travel
 Muslims traveling for any purpose.
Muslim tourism
 Muslims traveling for tourism.
Halal travel
 Muslim travelers, who do not wish to compromise their faith-based needs while traveling for a
purpose, which is permissible
or it can also be defined as
 Halal conscious travelers, traveling for any purpose, which is Halal (permissible).
Halal travel is a subset of Muslim travel. However, since the vast majority of Muslims will at least
have some form of a faith-based need while traveling, the majority of Muslim travel will fall into
the category of Halal travel.
Halal tourism = Muslim Friendly Tourism
 Halal travel undertaken for tourism.
 Halal tourism is a subset of Halal travel.