Muslims are predicted to make up almost one in three of the world’s population by 2025, and increasing numbers of well heeled, well-educated followers of Islam are already seeking out goods and services that meet their religious needs when travelling.
Global revenue from Muslim tourists is expected to rise 4.8% annually over the next eight years compared to a global average of 3.8%, according to research by Muslim-specialists Crescent Rating and DinarStandard.
In their recent report, Global Muslim Lifestyle Travel Market: Landscape & Consumer Needs, presented at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London in November, noted that Muslims spent $126bn, during their travels in 2011. In 2020, the corresponding figure will reach $192bn.
This expenditure accounts for 12.3% of the total global of outbound tourism expenditure in 2011, which amounted to $1,034bn in total, according to World Tourism Organisation estimates.
Comparatively, the international Muslim tourism market as a whole is larger than the largest single spending tourist market in the world – Germany – and almost twice that of China’s in 2011.
The study, which compared Muslims’ experiences in 47 countries – but did not include religious travel during Hajj and Umrah – found that tourists from the Middle East and North Africa account for around 60% of total global Muslim outbound expenditure, with Saudi Arabia comprising the largest number of individuals, followed by Iran, UAE, Indonesia and Kuwait. Muslim communities living in non-Muslim countries also have a sizable outbound tourism expenditure share. The largest of these markets are to be found in Germany, Russia, France and UK.
Malaysia continues to attract the largest number of Muslim visitors, even during Ramadan; the capital Kuala Lumpur has introduced an “Arab Street” to make tourists from the Middle East feel at home and Arab investors have spent more than $300m building two “Arab cities” in Malacca. Turkey and the UAE are the next most popular followed by Singapore, Russia, China France, Thailand and Italy.
The report cited Emirates, Malaysia and Thai Airways as three of the most successful airlines at catering to Muslim needs. Even in Muslim majority destinations, hotels/resorts such as De Palma Group of Hotels in Malaysia, Al Jawhara Hotel in Dubai, Amer Group of Resorts in Egypt and Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel in Turkey are offering specific Muslim lifestyle focussed services. In Thailand, spa-outlets have introduced the concept of Muslim-friendly spas in a bid to lure tourists from the Middle East and Global Health City, in Chennai, India, has undergone Halal certification to better serve its growing medical tourists.
Airports in Munich, Thailand and Turkey were singled out by the survey for their successful implementation of Muslim-friendly environments.
Now non-Islamic countries such as Australia are also waking up to this group of tourists, offering special Ramadan packages.
When looking at what was most important when travelling, Muslim tourists cited the availability of halal food (70%), family friendly environments and gender sensitive programmes and facilities, in swimming polls, health spas ecetera (49%), as some of the most important deciding factors when choosing where to go on holiday.
According to Rafi-uddin Shikoh, managing director of the US-based DinarStandard market research company: “Muslim tourists may very well be the largest un-tapped niche market of the tourism industry.
Airlines, destinations and hotels/resorts can benefit tremendously by catering to the unique Muslim lifestyle travel drivers.”
Despite growing demand, very few in the tourism industry are yet catering specifically to Muslim needs, giving industry players a unique opportunity to lead in adding this segment to their multicultural mix. n
Muslim travellers who shaped the world
IBN BATTUTA (1304-1377)
Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan Berber Muslim and scholar, has become one of the most famous travellers of all time. When he was 21 years old, Ibn Battuta set off for Mecca to perform the Hajj. Over the course of his voyage, he travelled to 44 modern countries and traversed nearly 75,000 miles. The account of his travels, “TheJourney” (Al Rihlain Arabic), features a detailed account of the many regions of the world including most of the Islamic world, much of Europe, India and Central and Far East Asia.
ABU AL HASAN AL MASUDI (896-956)
Abu Al Hasan Al Masudi was a famous Arab historian and geographer is known as “The Herodotus of the Arabs”, for combining history and scientific geography in his world history, The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems. Born in Baghdad, Al Masudi spent the majority of his life travelling to East Africa, the Middle East, Persia, Russia and the Caucuses, India and China. Over his lifetime, he produced books and encyclopedias chronicling world history.
MUHAMMAD AL IDRISI (1100- 1165)
Was a famous geographer and traveler who was a descendant of the Idrisid rulers of Morocco. During his early life, Al Idrisi travelled throughout Europe and North Africa. When he reached adulthood, he spent years compiling information on Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Far East from merchants and other travellers. He used this information to complete, the TabulaRogeriana,which is considered to be the most accurate map of its time. AHMED IBN MAJID (1421- 1500) Ahmad Ibn Majid was a famous navigator and Arabic poet who is most famous for having assisted Vasco da Gama in his quest to go around the Cape of Good Hope of South Africa. He is so famous that he is known as the first Arab seaman. His best-known work is the Book of Useful Information on the Principles and Rules of Navigation(Kitab al-Fawa’idfiUsul’Ilmal-Bahrwa’l-Qawa’id), which outlines the history and basic principles of navigation. His major contribution to world history was providing Vasco da Gama, the world famous Portuguese explorer, with a map of the world that was unknown to other European sailors at the time.
Airlines, Destinations and hotels/Resorts can benefit tremendously by catering to the unique Muslim lifestyle
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