Vice president of the Association of Tour and Travel Agents Malaysia (Matta) Jeffri Sulaiman said there was huge market potential for Muslim tourism industry.
"Even in countries with non-Muslims such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Australia, Muslim tourism was promoted large scale."
"The journey is not just limited to Muslims for Muslims only. Company travel of non-Muslims can learn how the Muslims to travel and how the package is planned," he said in a press conference to launch the International Conference on Muslim Tourism, Hajj and Umrah fifth (InCOMTHU 2011) recently.
The conference will be held on April 14, 2011 in the Board of Tun Hussein Onn, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur. For a full day conference aims to discuss issues related to Muslim tourism industry.
Chairman Noor Zaleha InCOMTHU 2011 Baharuddin encourage people from various sectors of the tourism industry such as bumiputra entrepreneurs, airlines, government agencies, and national tourism agencies to attend InCOMTHU 2011.
"Participants will learn how to create opportunities and overcome obstacles on the way Muslims," he said.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be the guest of honor and main speaker.
Several guest speakers such as the mayor of Makkah and representatives from the Tourism Australia and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan will also attend the conference.
Still in related news, the number of Australian tourists from the Middle East is expected to rise 13% in 2014, Indian tourists are also predicted to increase 11% and Indonesia at 9%.
Responding to the increasing number of Muslim tourists, prayer rooms and halal food options may become more common on the tourist attractions and hotels in Australia.
In Furtures Tourism Conference in Brisbane, managing director of Expedia Daniel Lynn said that tourism operators will increasingly need to adjust their menus and provide another bid to meet new market needs.
Lynn said there were many temporary workers in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi who encourage each other to travel, and airlines like Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar has increased passenger.
Many hotels Australia that have added features for Muslim visitors and vehicle play Dreamworld on the Gold Coast provides a prayer room and a restaurant halal for Muslims. (Rin / st / vb)www.suaramedia.com |