JAKARTA — Amid an increasing number of countries readying their destinations to welcome Muslim tourists, female Muslim travelers are considered to be an important contributor to the rise of the halal tourism industry.
According to a recent report released by financial technology company Mastercard and halal tourism industry service provider CrescentRating, 71 percent of these Muslim women were found to travel with family members in 2018, while 29 percent went on trips with female companions.
Interestingly, out of approximately 63 million female travelers, two-thirds of whom were age 40 years or below, up to 28 percent embarked on solo journeys, indicating an increasing passion among this particular segment to explore the world.
In terms of spending, these young Muslim female travelers contributed quite significantly to the industry. According to a statement on Friday, these women spent more than US$80 billion in total during their journeys last year, a number that is predicted to increase in the future.
In accordance with the behavior of young people, more than half of these solo travelers turn to social media to find information regarding accommodations, supplies and restaurants.
Dining at halal places is naturally important, with up to 94 percent of survey respondents mentioning it as a priority. Additionally, access to praying rooms for women (86 percent) and female-only spas and salons (79 percent) are also high on their itineraries, as well as eco-friendly destinations when they travel abroad (73 percent).
“Female Muslim travelers are set to explore the world. With their young age and high motivation, they are ready to interact with the tourism industry providers [who are prepared] to welcome them and provide travel experiences that focus on their values and community,” said Mastercard market product management vice president Aisha Islam in the statement.
“This report aims to give information that could help tourism industry players create products and services for this segment,” she added.