Northstar

TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA I T B A S I A S H O W D A I L I E S www.travelweekly-asia.com 18 18 OC TOBER 2018 While Muslim nations such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates make natural destinations for halal travel, there are new destinations looming on the horizon. Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of halal-travel website and consultancy, CrescentRating, which publishes the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2018, singles out Uzbekistan as having "huge potential". Says Bahardeen, "Uzbekistan's main attraction lies in its deep Islamic heritage in places like Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent. Its history, religion and culture will result in a surge of Muslims going there." Uzbekistan was singled out by BBC in a September article, Uzbekistan: Land of a thousand shrines, as aspiring to become "a second Mecca, a destination for pilgrims from all over the world". That aspiration may not be a pipe dream given its visa-relaxation policies. From February 2018, the country has made it easier for tourists to either get a visa — or not require one at all. Nationals from seven countries including Japan, Splendour at Kok-Gumbaz Mosque Destinations get savvy on serving the needs of this quick-growing market. By Eve Yap Blazing the halal trail In 2017, there were some 131 million Muslim visitor arrivals globally. The number will shoot up to 156 million visitors by 2020. Halal travel expenditure is slated to hit US$300 billion by 2026, with millennials creating demand. The booming Muslim travel market has led ITB Asia 2018 to partner with key experts, CrescentRating and Halal Trip, for the third edition of the Halal in Travel summit . A new dedicated Muslim Travel Hub and Pavilion will be launched at the event. SPENDING SHOOTS UP NEW PLACES TO PLAY AND PRAY Here are the trending frontiers that offer feasting, prayers and sightseeing the Muslim-friendly way. Uzbekistan Culture, history and pilgrimage meet in Uzbekistan, home to thousands of shrines and the resting place of Islamic luminaries. Take Imam al-Bukhari — born in Bukhara and buried Samarkand, both famous Silk Road cities. One of the theologian's works is considered to be the second most important Islamic book after the Koran. Samarkand is also the burial home of Emperor Tamerlane, astronomer Ulughbek, and Kusam Ibn Abbas (cousin of the Prophet Muhammad), who brought Islam to the country. The Balkans You could say that Austria, Bosnia and Croatia, form the ABCs of Muslim-friendly places in the Balkans. Austria's capital Vienna boasts 19 mosques. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has famous waterfalls nearby. And the Zagreb Mosque in the capital of Croatia is so large it houses a school. "Balkan countries such Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia are hot, trending destinations." – FAZAL BAHARDEEN, CEO, CRESCENTRATING. Cordoba's streets to shop for curios and go to Granada for the art and architecture of Alhambra Palace. Japan Whether you are touring the ruins of Fukuoka Castle in Kyushu, or snowboarding on Hirafu in Hokkaido, finding halal facilities is easy. National tourism officials have given a big push towards halal sensibilities, and many hotels have prayer mats to loan and compasses to show the direction of Mecca. Restaurants have non-pork menus and alcohol- free ingredients. Iceland Adventurous Muslim travellers head to Iceland for an otherworldly experience. Not just for the Northern Lights but also for the geysers, volcanoes, waterfalls and glacial parks too. The Skaftafell Ice Cave is one of many ice caves worth exploring. The dearth of halal- friendly restaurants is not a deterrent: intrepid Muslim wanderers opt for one of many seafood restaurants around in winter. Spain Muslim travellers can explore Spain with confidence because the country's Halal Institute guarantees certification that meets Islamic laws. Many halal restaurants ply diners with Mediterranean-style fish and vegetables while Noor Restaurant in Cordoba is famed for halal haute cuisine. Wander through VISIT BOOTH: R17 Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore come under a 30- day, visa-free regime, says its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bahardeen, who was in the country at the invitation of Uzbek government officials in September to advise the travel trade on how to be more halal- friendly, notes the country's ambitious targets. "The numbers they cited were amazing," he says, adding, "They had 2 million visitors in total in 2017. They hope to get 5 million in 2018 and 10 million by 2020." Apart from Uzbekistan, Balkan countries such Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia are "hot, trending destinations", says Bahardeen, whose other business, HalalTrip.com, is like the TripAdvisor for Muslim travellers. His parting shot, "How many times can you go to Malaysia, Indonesia or Turkey?"

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