BORACAY – Malay town mayor Frolibar Bautista vowed to put Boracay Island in the map as halal-friendly destination for Muslim travelers and non-Muslims as well.
Halal tourism is a rapid growing market in the world tourism industry that offers services and amenities, access to halal food, which adheres to Islamic dietary laws.
Halal tourism mainly provides products and services that meet the needs of Muslim travelers, facilitating worship and meeting dietary requirements that help these individuals conform to Islamic teachings (Vargas-Sánchez & Moral-Moral, 2019).
Recent data show Muslim spending on halal travel was USD169 billion in 2016 and estimated at USD283 billion in 2022.
Bautista said the significant potential of halal tourism for local economy of Boracay Island and mainland Malay in Aklan province has become crucial.
By targeting Muslim visitors to try halal Filipino cuisine and visit the halal-friendly beaches of Boracay Island, the halal tourism will gain popularity in terms of social and economic benefits for local communities in the coming years.
Bautista said the lucrative halal tourism market will further foster cultural exchange and understanding due to the increasing number of Muslim tourists who travel to various destinations.
“Maabu nga Muslim brothers sa bilog nga kalibutan ru magabisita sa Boracay Island ag kun matabu daya, dapat nga atung suportahan ru halal tourism,” the mayor stressed.
This July, local officials of Malay are invited to visit Brunei to experience its halal-friendly offerings, learn about local culture and get acquainted with well-established Muslim-friendly environment./PN
