Muslim Friendly Tourism:
Regulating Accommodation Establishments
In the OIC Member Countries
7
For the non-OIC countries, establishments can attract Muslim consumers in a practical way by
offering low cost basic services that accommodate the needs Muslim guests and have low
impact on mainstream guests. The services and facilities include offering some Halal food
options, prayer mats and schedule, Qibla direction in rooms and removing alcohol from
minibar for Muslim guests as well as providing them with a list of Halal eateries and mosques.
Policy Recommendations for the OIC Countries with No MFT Regulations: the OIC member
countries should develop a government-led MFT strategy, which involves building internal
stakeholder awareness, establishing a dedicated MFT body or committee, and developing and
implementing an MFT market growth strategy. The tourism ministry should work with
accommodation facilities to ensure they provide all basic MFT requirements. the OIC countries
that do not currently have MFT regulation in place are advised to adopt an existing MFT standard
that is suitable for the OIC countries with their level of development. For a newMFT regulation to
succeed it is important to ensure buy-in from all stakeholders including accommodation
facilities, industry associations, tourism boards, as well as travelers. Promotion campaigns,
specific industry events, and incentives, such as tax breaks, are required to ensure wider
adoption. It is critical that MFT regulation is implemented effectively and is closely monitored to
ensure success. It is important to articulate clear benefits of MFT regulation nationally, in terms
of Muslim tourist receipts, as well as on the individual hotel level. An increase in sales due to
certification will build confidence and encourage other hotels to become certified. After the
standard has been implemented, collect feedback from the accommodation sector, regulators,
and consumers. Continue monitoring and periodically gathering feedback. Based on the level of
benefits that have been realized and the feedback that has been gathered from all stakeholders,
reassess the standard and revise if necessary.
Existing standards can be rather than developing a new standard. However, if the currently
available standards are not suitable for a country’s unique requirements, it is recommended
to follow the steps, outlined in the following figure, based on findings from the case studies,
interviews, and research on existing standards.