ENCOURAGING RESPONSE FROM INDUSTRY PLAYERS FOR

ISLAMIC TOURISM & HALAL WEEK (IISTHAL)

Tie up between 2^nd Global Islamic Tourism Conference & Exhibition (GITC) and 2^nd National Halal Conference & Exhibition provides wider scope for industry players

The International Islamic Tourism & Halal Week (IISTHAL), with the theme Showcasing Islamic Wonders, has received encouraging response from industry players, according to a statement from the organizers.

Scheduled to be held from December 7 – 10 at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, IISTHAL is set to be an annual event to promote and enhance knowledge and data about Islamic Tourism and Halal networking. An interesting feature of IISTHAL is also the 3-day Global Islamic Food Festival which will showcase culinary delights from the various continents.

Apart from participation from local tourism and halal industry players, State governments as well as foreign participation has decidedly increased this year with 10 countries showing positive interest and response. Among these countries are France, Australia, Brunei, Egypt, Thailand, Oman and Pakistan. The organizers are looking at a target figure of 100 exhibition booths for the Exhibition, 30 food presentations as well as 500 conference participants during the 3-day event which begins on December 8. IISTHAL will be preceded by a one-day Media workshop on Islamic Tourism and the Halal Industry for both local and international media.

IISTHAL comprises two main international conferences and exhibitions, namely the 2^nd Global Islamic Tourism Conference & Exhibition 2009 (GITC 2009) and the 2^nd National Halal Conference & Exhibition 2009. In addition, the Global Islamic Food Festival (GIFF) and Malaysian Halal Excellence Awards are two sub-events during the week that are expected to draw much interest from industry players and the public.

Both these two conferences and exhibitions are jointly organized by GITC Secretariat Sdn Bhd and Khaaz International Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Persatuan Perdagang dan Pengusaha Melayu Malaysia (PERDASAMA). This event is also coordinated and facilitated by the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) and supported by Tourism Malaysia.

According to ITC director-general, Encik Zainuddin Abdul Wahab, ever since IISTHAL was launched last month, there has been encouraging response from the industry players, both locally and from overseas.

“Although for both companies, their respective events are being held for the second time this year, they are collaborating to organise such an event for the first time in this region, and we envisage encouraging response from both the exhibitors and conference participants,” Encik Zainudin added.

The main objectives of this conference and exhibition are not only to showcase the Islamic wonders of the world whilst sharing and discussing current issues, tourism attributes and new frontiers on Islamic tourism, but also to strengthen the Malaysian halal industry and tapping the opportunities thereof.

The Exhibition is also open to the public whilst the conference is for the industry players. More information can be obtained from: www.itc.gov.my/ www.islamic-tourism.com/www.halalconference.com.