@Halal September/October 2024 | Page 36

September-October . 2024

DAY 1 :

( THURSDAY )

OPENING CEREMONY

▶ Welcome Remarks by YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing , Minister of Tourism , Arts and Culture , Malaysia

▶ Keynote address by YAB Dato ’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim , Prime Minister of Malaysia

TRACK 1 :

UNDERSTANDING THE MUSLIM TOURIST

TRACK 2 :

MUSLIM FRIENDLY TRAVEL AND THE COMMUNITY

STANDARDS : THE KEY TO WINNING OVER MUSLIM TOURISTS Standards and certifications are the foundations of a strong Islamic tourism ecosystem , able to instill confidence and nurture trust between Muslim-friendly tourism product and service providers and their customers . But is it hard ? Is it expensive ? Is it worth it ? Experts in the industry weigh in on the matter offering new insights and perspectives .

CONNECTING MUSLIM TOURISTS IN THE DIGITAL SPACE Muslims often feel excluded on online major social networks – hear from the Founder of Muzz on their plans to launch their own social network aimed at Muslims – and how safe Muslim digital spaces are essential .

WHO IS THE MUSLIM TRAVELLER ? All too often , when destinations picture the “ Muslim travellers ”, they picture Middle Eastern faces – but there is a significant opportunity for a second or third generation Muslim consumers living in non-OIC countries . What do these travellers want ? And how can tourism stakeholders connect with them ?

FEMALE MUSLIM TRAVELLERS : THE POWERHOUSE DRIVING THE INDUSTRY FORWARD In just over 10 years , more than 50 million Muslim women entered the workforce worldwide , creating an epic impact on societies worldwide . What are the implications of this for the world of tourism ?

DAY 2 :

( FRIDAY )

TRACK 3 :

GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY

THE LEADERS ' CIRCLE : A CONVERSATION ON FORGING CONNECTIONS Join key leaders as they weigh in on partnership opportunities to drive a tourism landscape that is inclusive , sustainable , and values-driven .

PROMOTING ISLAMIC HERITAGE AS A DRIVER FOR TOURISM Hear from distinct destinations : Malaysia , Singapore , Uzbekistan , Spain and Saudi Arabia , among others , on how they promote Islamic heritage as a key draw for tourists , both Muslims and non-Muslims . Thanks to its ancient history and significance of being on the Silk Route , Uzbekistan has an outstanding richness of

Islamic heritage . Spain was once the heartland of Al-Andalus whilst Saudi Arabia has long been established as a treasure trove of heritage . Malaysia and Singapore on the other hand witnessed the early establishments of Islam in Southeast Asia . Listen to our panellists to understand how they have developed Muslim-friendly tourism to showcase their culture and history .

INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURSHIP Listen to key entrepreneurs getting themselves involved within the Muslim-friendly space , and hear their highs , their lows , their journey to succeed – and what opportunities are lighting them up .

Disclaimer : The information provided is accurate as of the time of publication .

MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TRAVEL : EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES Tourism dispersal is key to addressing overtourism - but simply pointing tourists in the direction of a rural village is not the answer . Instead , connection with local communities is key to ensure that tourism is implemented in a respectful way and provides economic opportunities at the same time .

THE HARMONY OF ISLAM AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM With the rise in the demand for sustainable travel , we look at whether Muslim friendly travel by its very nature is a new paradigm which could become the default for all travellers , non-Muslims and Muslims alike .

THE POWER OF FOOD One of the biggest attractions for any traveller is the food of a country , and to share and savour authentic food made by the locals . However , one of the challenges that Muslim travellers face is finding places which can offer these traditional flavours , but are halal . In this quick-fire panel , learn how food can be the focal point for a tour - instead of a solitary sandwich in a hotel room .

TRACK 4 :

INCLUSIVITY

BRINGING THE NON-MAINSTREAM , MAINSTREAM : CONNECTING ACROSS BOUNDARIES Running a marketing campaign for a non- Muslim company , targeted at Muslim consumers in a non-Muslim country is challenging . How have brands walked the tightrope of connecting with a targeted consumer base , whilst not alienating their mainstream consumer base ? Hear from a marketing agency who was tasked with just that , running campaigns for popular consumer brands we all know and love .

ISLAMIC FINANCE AND THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TRAVEL With more exciting online players in the Islamic finance space , how will this impact Muslim-friendly travel ? What are the synergies that can be developed ? And how can this lead to greater growth ?