👋 Welcome to This Week’s Review!

Welcome to Halal Market Mastery! Each week, we’ll provide you with expert tips, best practices and industry developments to thrive in the booming trillion-dollar halal market. Let’s dive in!

This week, we explore Marketing Strategies for Attracting Halal Tourists, highlight an innovative destination, and bring you the latest halal industry updates.

📊 Fun Fact of the Day:

International Muslim arrivals reached 176 million in 2024 – up 25% from 2023 – and are projected to grow to 245 million by 2030. By then, total travel spending is expected to reach USD$230 billion, driven by rising Muslim populations, increasing disposable incomes, and growing demand for culturally and religiously appropriate services.

Muslim travellers are not just looking for halal food—they seek a complete Muslim-friendly travel experience, including accommodation, attractions, prayer facilities, and modest entertainment.

📈 Top 5 Strategies to Attract Halal Tourists

1. Halal F&B and Hospitality
   Ensure restaurants, hotels, and resorts offer halal meals and Muslim-friendly services. Clearly display certification and provide prayer spaces with Qibla direction and prayer mats.

2. Create Tailored Travel Packages
   Work with Muslim travel agencies to create packages that align with Islamic values. Include visits to mosques, halal eateries, and culturally significant attractions. Consider non-alcoholic wellness spas and family-friendly itineraries.

3. Digital Presence in Halal Travel Platforms
   Feature your business on halal travel apps, directories, and booking platforms like HalalBooking, Muslim Pro, and Have Halal Will Travel. Leverage SEO using halal-related travel keywords.

4. Collaborate with Muslim Influencers
   Partner with Muslim travel bloggers and influencers who create content in native languages (e.g., Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic) to reach regional markets authentically and build trust.

5. Communicate
   Beyond offering halal, businesses must clearly communicate their commitment to serving Muslim travellers—through multilingual brochures, staff training, and culturally respectful signage.

📍 Destination Highlight: Japan’s Growing Appeal to Muslim Travellers

Japan is fast emerging as one of the most Muslim-friendly travel destinations in Asia. In recent years, Japanese tourism authorities and businesses have made a concerted effort to accommodate the needs of Muslim travellers—driven by growing inbound tourism from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Middle East.

Major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto now offer halal-certified restaurants, Muslim-friendly souvenir shops, clearly labelled prayer facilities in airports, shopping malls, and train stations, and multilingual guides catered specifically to Muslim tourists. You’ll also find hotels offering qibla direction indicators, prayer mats, and non-alcoholic amenities.

Japan’s example demonstrates that attracting halal tourists is not about overhauling your business—it’s about making thoughtful, respectful adaptations that show genuine understanding. By aligning with Muslim values and promoting those efforts transparently, destinations like Japan are unlocking a valuable and loyal market segment.

📰 Halal Headlines

• Pakistan, Vietnam agree to take bilateral trade up to $1 billion, finalise PTA

  Pakistan and Vietnam have agreed to enhance bilateral trade to $1 billion and finalise a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which includes a focus on halal certification and key sectors such as textiles and fisheries.

• Indonesia, Australia boost halal trade ties, eye meat import surge

  Indonesia and Australia are enhancing their cooperation in halal product trade through bilateral talks, addressing the need for a significant increase in halal meat imports and proposing unified certification standards to support food security and sustainable trade.

• Bangladesh: BSTI opens lab to certify halal products

  The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has inaugurated a new laboratory to certify halal products, aiming to enhance Bangladesh's competitiveness in the global halal market.

• Vietnam eyes opportunities to expand exports to Halal markets

  Vietnam is exploring significant export opportunities in the global Halal market, especially in sectors like agriculture, food, and cosmetics, while facing challenges such as certification complexities and diverse consumer demands in regions like the Gulf Cooperation Council and South Asia.

• Malaysia aims to be Asean halal hub for New Zealand products

  Malaysia is set to become a halal hub for New Zealand products in Asean, leveraging recent recognition from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department to facilitate the export of halal goods.

• Maybank Singapore, SCCCI collaborate on driving investment in JS-SEZ

  Maybank Singapore has signed an MOU with the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry to enhance cross-border business collaboration and investment in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, which will include capacity-building programs with a focus on sustainability and Halal advisory services for its members.

• Indonesia: BPJPH to prioritise free halal certificates

  The Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH) plans to finance 3.5 million free halal certificates and establish technical service units in 2026, following a budget increase to enhance halal certification services for micro and small enterprises in Indonesia.

• Vietnam, Yemen seek to bolster bilateral relations

  Vietnam and Yemen are strengthening bilateral relations by enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, delegation exchanges, and collaboration in the Halal industry, aiming to increase their two-way trade beyond the current $50 million.

• Indonesia: BPJPH plans halal certification guidelines for cosmetics

  The Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH) is drafting halal certification guidelines for cosmetic products to ensure compliance with mandatory requirements set to take effect on October 17, 2026, aiming to streamline regulations and enhance the competitiveness of Indonesia's halal cosmetics in the global market.

• ASEAN To Strengthen Halal Food Trade In Response To Global Demand

  ASEAN Foreign Ministers are seeking to enhance halal food trade by harmonising national standards and encouraging stakeholder involvement to meet the increasing global demand for halal products.

🔍 Explore More Halal Resources

Looking to deepen your knowledge about the halal market or find more engaging content? Check out our various platforms:

1. Halal Market Mastery Newsletters
   For weekly halal market tips, news reports, and insights to keep your business ahead.

2. Halal Practitioner Blog Posts
   Explore in-depth think pieces and market trend analysis to help you navigate the halal economy.

3. Halal Made Simple YouTube Videos
   Enjoy bite-sized, easy-to-understand halal content that’s perfect for beginners or busy professionals.

📢 Coming Next Week…

We’re diving into “Branding Snacks for Halal Consumers” – where we explore how packaging, storytelling, and halal cues can make your snack products stand out in a competitive market. Whether you're a manufacturer or distributor, learn how to appeal to the values and lifestyles of modern halal-conscious consumers.

📊 We Value Your Feedback!

We’d love to hear from you! Let us know how you’ve been enjoying Halal Market Mastery so far:

🚀 Ready to Tap into the Halal Tourism Boom?

At Halal Practitioner, we provide strategic support, training, and resources for businesses seeking to engage halal tourists effectively. Reach out to learn how we can help you become a preferred destination for Muslim travellers.

That’s all for this week!
Stay informed, stay inspired, and stay halal.

Best Regards,
Halal Market Mastery Team