Malaysia unveils tourism guidelines to be more Muslim-friendly

Malaysia has come up with tourism guidelines to make it a more Muslim-friendly nation.

The guidelines - called MS2610:2015 Muslim-Friendly Hospitality Services Requirements - are to set up a system to "preserve and protect the integrity of our Islamic tourism products and services".

Unveiling the guidelines at the Putra World Trade Centre here today, Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said Malaysia is recognised as the leading country for Islamic tourism.

"For five consecutive years we have been named the number one destination for Muslim travellers," she said. This is the finding of studies conducted by international bodies such as Thomson Reuters, Mastercard and Crescentrating.

She attributed the success to the developed Islamic economy ecosystem in this country.

From its halal industry to Islamic finance to Islamic tourism, Malaysia has become a model of a moderate yet progressive Muslim country, envied and emulated by the rest of the global Islamic community, Mas Ermieyati said.

MS2610:2015 was developed by the Department of Standards Malaysia in collaboration with the Islamic Tourism Centre.

The guidelines are to ensure that products and services provided for Muslim travellers complied with Syariah (Islamic law) principles.