Halal Tourism: Catering to a fast growing traveller segment

Conducted by UK-based research firm Context Consulting and commissioned by Amadeus, the study identifies traveller requirements the travel industry can meet to service this fast-growing segment.

Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Amadeus Middle East and North Africa, explained why Amadeus looked at this rising travel phenomenon.

These travellers expect their vacations to be in accord with Islamic religious principles. Halal tourism numbers are expected to hit 150 million travellers with a collective spend estimated at $200 billion by 2020, according to the MasterCard-Crescent­Rating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015.

Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Head of Commercial Strategy and Business Management, Amadeus Middle East and North Africa, commented on what the findings tell us about who these travellers are and what they expect from their travel experience.

Halal travel is a phenomenon that is skyrocketing. The Muslim population is growing rapidly and will increase from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030.

According to the UNWTO, the Islamic tourism market is expected to reach a value of $181 billion in 2018, $36 billion more than what it was worth in 2014. This makes Halal one of the most dynamic tourism segments.

Khaled Gad El Mawla, General Manager, Amadeus Egypt, highlighted the value of meeting these travellers’ needs.