Tourism industry players encouraged to implement Syariah-compliant concept

Tourism industry players are encouraged to implement the syariah-compliant and Muslim-friendly concept to attract more Muslim tourists to the country.

Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said this was in line with Malaysia being known as a Muslim-friendly tourist destination and also because of the high purchasing power of tourists from Muslim countries.

"An Arab tourist can spend nearly RM10,000 in a day and it would be a loss if our tourism industry players do not take advantage of this," he told reporters after opening a mini-symposium on Islamic tourism here Thursday.

Mas Ermieyati said they should provide services which are syariah-compliant and Muslim-friendly, like prayer room and halal food, for the comfort of tourists.

"Now, we have several hotels implementing the concept and the outcome, they receive high returns," she said.

She said the ministry was targetting to get 5.5 million Muslim tourists to come to Malaysia this year.

On the symposium, the first ever organised by the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), she said it would be a platform for industry players and academicians to discuss issues on Islamic tourism.

The two-day symposium, which began Thursday, is attended by about 100 people, during which eight working papers would be tabled. -- BERNAMA