July-August. 2025

Mosque Tourism Roundtable 09

The 4th Mosque Tourism Roundtable in Kelantan sets the stage for deeper collaboration ahead of VM2026

The roundtable aims to achieve two main objectives:

1. To expand mosque participation in tourism, enabling more mosques to serve as Muslim-friendly attractions for both domestic and international travellers, particularly in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026( VM2026). 2. To encourage the recruitment of Mosque Volunteers, who can serve as friendly, knowledgeable ambassadors to welcome and guide tourists during their visits.

Nur Alyssa Coraline Yussin

" Through ITM, we aim to drive greater tourist interest in states like Kelantan while also encouraging more local industry players, such as hotels, products, and guides, to get on board with our recognitions, such as MFAR and Muslim- Friendly Tourist Guide( MFTG)."

just around the corner. This campaign is all about promoting Muslim-friendly destinations, services, and experiences, including the Mosque Open Day( MOD) across Malaysia. We ' re especially excited to highlight Kelantan and the broader east coast this year," said Alyssa.

" Through ITM, we aim to drive greater tourist interest in states like Kelantan while also encouraging more local industry players, such as hotels, products, and guides, to get on board with our recognitions, such as MFAR and Muslim-Friendly Tourist Guide( MFTG)."

Alyssa said that ITC is planning a meeting with the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association( MyBHA) Kelantan chapter to introduce its programmes and encourage participation in strengthening Muslim-friendly tourism in the state. She added that with MTRT, ITM, and upcoming collaborations, this marks a strong starting point for deeper ties between ITC and Kelantan.

Tourism Mosque Directory.

This marks the fourth edition of the MTRT, following successful gatherings in Putrajaya in 2014, Terengganu in 2017 and Penang in 2019.

According to Nur Alyssa Coraline Yussin, Acting Director-General of ITC, the roundtable serves as a key platform for mosque administrators, religious officers and tourism stakeholders from across the country to strengthen their understanding of mosque tourism. It recognises that mosques are not only places of worship but also significant cultural, architectural and historical landmarks valued by both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors.

A highlight of the programme is a session on the first day, led by renowned speaker and motivator Amin Idris, aimed at helping participants present themselves and their mosques in a warm and professional manner. With a common framework and consistent hospitality standards, mosque tourism has the potential to become one of Malaysia ' s flagship products under the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality( MFTH) sector.

ITC ' S ENGAGEMENTS IN KELANTAN

" Besides the MTRT, ITC will also be gearing up for our annual Islamic Tourism Month( ITM) campaign, which is

TOURISM MOSQUE DIRECTORY

THE Tourism Mosque Directory, created by the Islamic Tourism Centre( ITC), serves as a centralised, user-friendly reference to help tourists and industry players explore mosque tourism more effectively.

A clear gap inspired this initiative: while many Muslim travellers seek mosques not just for prayer but also for cultural and heritage experiences, relevant information is often difficult to find. Meanwhile, many mosques that are eager to welcome visitors lack visibility.

The directory bridges this gap by offering essential details such as mosque locations, facilities, historical context and tourism appeal. Travellers can now plan their visits with greater confidence, while mosques gain a platform to be part of curated travel itineraries.

For tour operators, the directory serves as a practical tool for selecting mosques for Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality( MFTH) packages, whether for guided tours or designated prayer stops. Ultimately, it aims to make mosque tourism more structured, accessible and engaging for all.- RnR