Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT):
Understanding the Supply and Demand Sides
In the OIC Member Countries
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c) Accommodation services (hotels, resorts, etc.)
Qatar offers Muslim friendly facilities in most of its hotels. The restaurants in the Hotel provide
Halal meals. However, three-quarters of Qatar’s 127 hotels are in the luxury sector. This
segment of the market has grown by almost 20 percent year on year over the past three years,
and half of the 124 planned hotels in Qatar are expected to be for the luxury and upscale
sector. Qatar is expected to review the three- and four-star hotel market. A large majority of
hotels offer prayer facilities – such as designated prayer rooms, prayer mats and timetables
and Qiblah sighs marked in rooms – for Muslim guests for prayers. Some Hotels also offer
coach services for Friday prayers.
Ahmed Khorshed, regional sales & marketing for Retaj also based in Doha said demand for ‘dry’
hotels in Qatar was booming. He commented that it was very hard to predict if there would be a
need for creating such a hotel in Doha. But they have found that the demand for ‘Islamic’ hotels is
more than regular hotels. For example, 2014 occupancy in Doha hotels is 63 percent, whereas the
occupancy at Retaj hotels is 87 percent.
d) Attractions & Activities (shopping, beaches, sightseeing etc.)
Qatar provides family friendly activities. Almost all the activities provide Muslim friendly
facilities. The main attraction in the city of Doha is the Museum of Islamic Art. The BBC travel
guide claims that, Qatar is the most happening place in the Middle East. Doha has become one
of the main cities in the GCC for shopping.
e) Travel agents/Tour operators
Currently there are about 165 tour and travel operators in Qatar. Most are focused on
providing outbound tour packages.
f) Human capital
The staff at the major hotels and restaurants is very well trained. They are polite and
courteous. They have a basic knowledge of catering to Muslims. However, as the case across
the OIC destinations, there is no structured program to develop human resources to cater to
the MFT sector.
g) Destinations
Hassan Abdulrahman Al-Ibrahim Chief Tourism Development Officer at Qatar Tourism
Authority based in Doha, Qatar commented that Qatar as Muslim country is Muslim friendly.
Muslims are already travelling to Muslim countries hence the necessary service infrastructure is
already in place. For example, he stated that halal restaurants are numerous in Muslim countries.
The challenge, he commented is to reach out to the Muslim traveler. Each country needs to
develop their own unique strategy.
Hassan mentioned that Qatar is positioning as a destination offering heritage and modernity. The
profile of the Muslim traveler is different from a decade ago. Hence understanding the Muslim
tourist has become very relevant to best cater to their taste.