SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER . 2023 | 05

Tourism Selangor CEO Azrul Shah Mohamad and Nizran Noordin during ITC ' s engagement session with Tourism Selangor .

“ Muslim women are among the most powerful demographics in the Muslim tourist market . Women make up 45 per cent of the total Muslim tourist travellers population , and not only that , they exert considerable influence in trip planning , regardless of the group setting they are in ,” he elaborated .

Referring to the National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 , Nizran pointed out one of MOTAC ’ s key strategies was “ Practise Sustainable and Responsible Tourism ”, under which the identified strategic action was to practise inclusive tourism development to include women , youth and disadvantaged groups , in line with the UNSDG .

“ It is only rational that destinations interested in attracting Muslim tourists recognise the significance of creating a supportive environment for this market and pay attention to their diverse needs and interests .

“ They appreciate the option to utilise gender-segregated facilities like gyms and swimming pools , child-friendly amenities and women-exclusive coaches on public transport . Similarly , information on directions to Muslim-friendly spas and Muslimah attire retail stores would also be helpful to them .”

Travel influencers play a pivotal role in influencing Muslim women ’ s travel choices . Social media , travel blogs , and online platforms are vital sources for women seeking information about destinations that align with their cultural sensitivities , offer suitable prayer facilities , and ensure safety . Like other tourists , Muslim travellers want stress-free getaways without discrimination and constraints .

In addition to enhancing facilities for Muslim women , Malaysia aims to engage more female writers to share authentic experiences through writings and videos , reinforcing the country as a secure , comprehensive destination for adventure , relaxation , and spiritual fulfilment . — R & R

Nizran Noordin ( centre ) with the committees from Masjid Muhammadiah , Ipoh , Perak .

AS A developing Muslim-majority country , Malaysia will continue to improve its Islamic tourism ecosystem .

Islamic Tourism Centre ( ITC ) Director-General Nizran Noordin said , this will not only help in pulling in more Muslims to visit the country but local tourists too . Apart from enjoying the infrastructure of Islamic tourism development , Malaysians are also been given more opportunities to be part of the sector .

“ One of ITC ’ s strategies for strengthening Malaysia ’ s position in the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality ( MFTH ) sector is to broaden its scope of products and services , opening up opportunities for Malaysians , from small businesses to large corporations , to participate in the rebranded Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition ( MFAR ) programme . This recognition programme used to stand for ‘ Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Recognition ’ and covered only hotels recognised by the Ministry of Tourism , Arts and Culture Malaysia ( MOTAC ).

“ Due to encouraging response , it has been expanded to celebrate the diversity of our MFTH offerings , namely accommodations , spa and wellness , medical facilities , travel agencies , transportation hubs , shopping malls , amusement parks , rest service areas , tourism products and convention and trade centres . Once again , communication plays a vital role in disseminating this information to the public .”

Since the first half of the year , ITC has embarked on a nationwide roadshow to ensure that existing industry players or interested individuals know all the opportunities and assistance they can seek to enhance their businesses through MFTH . Each roadshow stop consists of the Islamic Tourism Entrepreneurship and Leadership Seminar ( ITELS ) and Let ’ s Sembang Together on MFAR . The roadshow has covered Negeri Sembilan , Pahang and Perak and is scheduled to continue until the end of the year .

ITC also travels across Malaysia , engaging with mosques that are excited to welcome visitors . With the help of experienced mosque volunteers and visit guides , captivating tours can be offered through engaging storytelling .

By holding awareness programmes about the importance of mosque tours to the tourism industry and the community , ITC is confident that mosques can be one of its signature tourist attractions .

So far , ITC has conducted Seminar Pelancongan Masjid and the Mosque Visit Guide ( MosVi ) Training Course in Kuching and Santubong , Sarawak , respectively , and more are in the pipeline in 2023 .

“ My predecessors have laid a strong foundation of MFTH for our industry players . This is an exciting time to take the helm in steering ITC to its next phase of positioning Malaysia as an Islamic tourism and Umrah hub on this side of the world . Our mission is to harmonise ITC ’ s efforts with local and international industry players to unlock more opportunities through innovative thinking and inspiring ideas ,” said Nizran .

Appointed as ITC Director-General in July , Nizran shared his main priorities would include streamlining ITC ’ s efforts and enhancing digitalisation . He also expressed interest in forging new collaborations to maximise revenue opportunities within the tourism industry .

“ Fully equipped with the training modules , standards and training programmes we have developed , I am confident ITC will create a robust and sustainable tourism economy that benefits not just the industry players but the rakyat and all levels of society .”