July-August. 2026 | @ Halal

COLUMN

• Shopping is a major driver of tourism spending, accounting for 36.1 per cent of Malaysia’ s inbound tourism expenditure and 36.9 per

cent of domestic tourism spending.

• Muslim-friendly retail goes beyond halal products, like prayer facilities, halal dining, family-friendly spaces and Muslim-friendly

services can significantly enhance the visitor experience.

• Moderation, fairness, halal assurance and responsible consumption can turn retail into a meaningful part of Islamic

tourism rather than merely a commercial transaction.

Whether in a modern mall, a traditional bazaar, a boutique arcade or a busy high street, shopping is part of the travel experience. It offers discovery, comfort, social interaction and, for many visitors, a sense of connection with the place they are visiting.

This connection between shopping, culture and tourism is not new. Across many Muslim societies, bazaars have long served as centres of trade, community and identity.

The grand bazaars of Istanbul, Cairo and Damascus, for example, remain attractions because they offer more than goods; they offer atmosphere, heritage and human encounter.

Modern shopping centres continue this role in a different form, combining retail, dining, entertainment, wellness, branding events and family recreation under one roof.

For tourists, especially families, malls often become temporary homes. Visitors may spend several hours shopping, eating, resting, praying, socialising or simply scaping the heat and traffic.

This makes shopping centres important tourism spaces, not merely commercial buildings. Their value increases when they provide services that are convenient, inclusive and sensitive to Muslim travellers’ needs.

ECONOMICS OF SHOPPING

The scale of this market is significant. The Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026 reported that international Muslim arrivals reached 196 million in 2025 and projected to reach 208 million in 2026.

By 2030, the market is expected to reach 262 million arrivals and generate about US $ 310 billion in annual travel expenditure.

Malaysia was also ranked the world’ s leading Muslim-friendly travel destination in 2026, scoring 82 out of 100. These figures show that Muslim travel is now a mainstream economic force, and shopping is one of the most visible ways destinations can capture its value.

Malaysia’ s own data confirms this importance. The Department of Statistics Malaysia Tourism Satellite Account 2024 reported that tourism generated RM291.9 billion and contributed 15.1 per cent to the national economy.

Inbound tourism expenditure reached RM107.0 billion, with shopping the largest component at 36.1 per cent.

More recent domestic tourism data also points in the same direction: domestic tourism expenditure reached RM121.3 billion in 2025, up 13.6 per cent from 2024, while shopping remained the largest spending category at 36.9 per cent, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia Domestic Tourism Survey 2025.

For Malaysia and other Muslimfriendly destinations, these numbers

BY DR. MOHMED RAZIP HASAN

Adjunct Professor, Veritas University College( VUC) Malaysia & Fellow, Institute Tun Perak Melaka show that shopping should be strategised as an integral part of the Islamic tourism value chain.

Modest fashion, halal-certified products, local crafts, luxury brands, family facilities and comfortable indoor experiences can all be positioned together. Shopping supports businesses while strengthening a destination identity.

ETHICS ON SHOPPING

Shopping with purpose, however, must be grounded in an ethical framework. Contemporary retail environments are shaped by continuous promotion, persuasive advertising and increasingly frictionless payment systems, all of which can intensify consumer desire and encourage expenditure beyond actual need.

From an Islamic perspective, consumption is not prohibited, but it is regulated by moral discipline, moderation and accountability. Muslim consumers are therefore encouraged to exercise self-restraint, manage desire, and make purchasing decisions that are consistent with Shariah principles.

Honesty, fairness, adherence to halal and haram requirements, and avoiding extravagance and waste are central to this understanding. Ethics, in this sense, is not separate from shopping, but it is an essential dimension of responsible Muslim consumer behaviour.

NEEDS OF MUSLIM SHOPPERS

Muslim shoppers also look for facilities that support faith, comfort and family life. Prayer rooms, halal food outlets, clean rest areas, family-friendly spaces and Muslim-friendly wellness services can make a major difference.

When these facilities are visible, accessible, and well maintained, visitors feel welcome and can shop with greater peace of mind.

The opportunity is not only economic but also social. Modest fashion can support local designers and entrepreneurs. Retail spaces can promote small businesses, artisans and community-based products.

Halal assurance can build trust. Ethical branding can remind consumers that value is measured not only by sales, but also by fairness, benefit, and responsibility.

Ultimately, shopping with purpose and ethics requires destinations, retailers and consumers to look beyond transactions. For Muslim travellers, a meaningful shopping experience combines halal confidence, modest choices, family comfort, fair dealing and responsible consumption.

If these elements are thoughtfully integrated, shopping can become more than an activity during travel. It can become a memorable expression of Islamic tourism that is commercially vibrant, culturally rich and spiritually mindful.

Let us together support the tourism campaigns- Sayangi Malaysia Sustainable Tourism( SMST) and Visit Malaysia Year 2026( VMY2026). See you again. Insha- Allah.-