Bandar Seri Begawan- Islamic tourism can provide an avenue for Brunei to develop its tourism industry, in the long term goal of diversifying its economy. A presentation on "Islamic Tourism and Halal Hospitality" was delivered yesterday by David Smith, the chief executive of Global Futures and Foresight UK, during the second day of the International Halal Market Conference which took place at the main conference hall of the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
Smith suggested a few ideas and methods through which the Sultanate could promote itself as hub for Islamic tourism. He acknowledged that Brunei had to compete with neighbouring countries which offered similar eco-tourism products to visitors. However, Smith proposed that the nation could create a product which combined its rainforest and environmental attractions with Islamic tourism products.
"(Brunei) is much more likely to have a halal offering than some of your neighbouring countries," he said. "As long as you make it clear (to the tourists) what is the product (you are offering to them)."
He said that there were tourists who wished to
experience the luxuries of staying in prestigious hotels and going on package tours, while keeping to Islamic beliefs and values during the duration of their visit to the country. This was the "niche" market which Brunei could focus on, he said.
He stressed the importance of having the infrastructure developed in order for Brunei to delve into Islamic tourism. Some of this infrastructure was already in place in the country, such as the ban of alcohol, providing prayer rooms and facilities, halal food and other halal-orientated hospitality.
"(These) people want to travel the way everybody else does... It is about knowing that the food is halal without having to ask," he added.
Smith explained that as a concept, Islamic tourism comprises three main components. These elements included the revival of Islamic cultures and the spread of Islamic values, the economic benefit for Islamic societies and the deepening of Islamic self-confidence, identity and beliefs.
According to Smith, Islamic tourism is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors in the tourism market. He said that the global tourism market was expected to "triple in size" from 565 million visitors recorded in 1995 to an estimated 1.6 billion visitors by the year 2020. It was also projected that one per cent of the world GDP (Gross Domestic Product) would come from this sub-sector alone.
The Middle East and East Asia have the largest estimated annual growth rate of tourist visitors by region. These two regions were among the forerunners in Islamic tourism.
The Middle East would invest US$3.76 trillion in travel and tourism, he said. This investment included the introduction of more than 900 new hotels offering more than 750,000 rooms by 2020, US$1.8 trillion spent on underlying infrastructure and US$1 trillion on leisure developments. Some 170 million tourists were expected to visit the region by 2020.
Source: http://www.brudirect.com (18 Agustus 2008)