THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) said the country needs to have more establishments offering halal-friendly food and services to attract the global Muslim travel market that is projected to spend about $225 billion by 2028.  

“We recognize the huge potential that halal tourism had in the past few years, but we acknowledge that there are still ways to go in terms of fully developing halal tourism for the Philippines,” Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco said in a speech at a Halal Food Festival on May 8 in Makati City.  

The DoT said increasing the country’s potential to get a bigger share of the halal tourism market would entail nationwide support and not just in Mindanao, the southern part of the Philippines that is home to a majority of the Filipino Muslim population.  

“It’s important for us to honor our heritage, promote our culture, and allow the Filipino people to remember our past and give this to the future — a future that includes Mindanao, halal tourism, and the rich, beautiful, and diverse culture of the people,” Ms. Frasco said.  

Muslim travelers peaked at 160 million globally in 2019, and recovery to this pre-pandemic level is expected by 2024 with estimated expenditures hitting $225 billion by 2028, according to the 2022 Global Muslim Travel Index.   

In the Philippines, over 223,000 visitors out of the 2.6 million total arrivals from February to December last year were from countries known to be Islamic or Muslim-populated.   

Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, speaking at a tour operators event in April, said more Muslim travelers would consider coming to the Philippines if they know that there are places that understand the basic concepts of halal — not just in terms of food — as an integral part of the Islamic faith. 

“It will be hard to travel to a new location if there are little to no places that can cater to a Muslim traveler’s specific needs and requirements,” she said. 

As of January 2023, there are 291 halal-friendly restaurants and accommodations in the country, more than half of which are in Mindanao, according to DoT’s database of Muslim-friendly establishments. 

This biggest number is in Region 9 or the Zamboanga Peninsula at 139, followed by Region X or Northern Mindanao with 77.  

Ms. Abubakar said these establishments passed the Muslim-friendly guidelines set out under the Tourism department’s Memorandum Circular 2020-010.  

Meanwhile, the investment board of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) promoted potential investments in the region during the 9th Annual International Conference and Exhibition held May 1-3 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.   

Bangsamoro Board of Investment (BBOI) Chairperon Mohamad Omar Pasigan said the event was an opportunity to showcase the region’s natural and cultural attractions as well as possible business ventures in various industries.  

“Our region is more than just a pretty face. It is a thriving hub of innovation, progress, and growth, with a diverse range of industries that provide endless opportunities for businesses of all sizes,” Mr. Pasigan said in a statement.   

A proposed law that will give incentives to halal-related investments within BARMM was filed in March in the region’s Parliament. — Brontë H. Lacsamana 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR