INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was named as an Emerging Muslim-friendly non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Mastercard-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Saturday.
According to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, the Philippines will build upon its Halal tourism to encourage more Muslims to visit the country.
READ: DOT to further boost ‘Muslim-friendly,’ halal tourism
“As a country known for its warm hospitality, rich cultural heritage, and breathtaking natural attractions, catering to the needs of Muslim travelers through the development of Halal Tourism is crucial in ensuring that we raise our competitiveness in the global tourism market,” Frasco said at the Halal in Travel Global Summit in Singapore on Thursday.
“Halal Tourism presents a rapidly growing market segment. By prioritizing this, we not only demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity but also open up opportunities to attract more Muslim travelers from around the world, while expanding markets for our tourism stakeholders and creating more livelihood and employment for our fellow Filipinos,” she added.
This was the second straight year that the country obtained the citation.
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“Tourism authorities have placed Halal tourism high on their priority agenda, evidenced by their action to enhance the Halal tourism portfolio and raise awareness among tourism stakeholders about the values and practices important to Muslim travelers,” the GMTI said.
Data from the DOT said that the country recorded more than 79,000 visitor arrivals from the Gulf Cooperation Council, with the United Arab Emirates leading at more than 33,760 visitors.