Abu Dhabi eyes US$240 billion halal travel market

Abu Dhabi is pitching to become the regional hub for the growing halal travel sector at the first World Halal Travel Summit being staged in the UAE capital this week.

The summit has been discussing what the industry can do to ensure it harnesses the potential of the growing halal travel sector, worth an estimated US$238 billion by 2019, whilst maintaining and initiating industry-wide quality standards.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority acting director-general, HE Jasem Al Darmaki, called on halal tour operators and the emirate’s tourism industry to embrace the opportunity.

“Halal travel is one of the fastest-growing sectors of global tourism and one that’s already worth US$135 billion and is set to double within the next five years.

“Abu Dhabi is placing itself at the heart of this market in the Gulf region, and is well placed to meet specific Muslim demands on a number of fronts, including food and beverage, segmented family and gender-specific product and segmented sessions for females at mainline attractions, and is host to a number of high and medium-quality dry hotels,” said Al Darmaki.

“We have already begun partnering with the world’s leading online accommodation booking platform and our local destination management companies are supporting international operators with halal products,” Al Darmaki added.