IRAN: US Sanctions Boost Iran Tourism

The annual International Exhibition of Halal Industry - Halal Expo - was held as at the end of April in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan as part of the XI International Economic Summit: “Russia - Islamic World: Kazan Summit 2019”.

An Iranian travel agency Persepol, that's registered in Kazan took part in the Expo.

Persepol offers travellers to see Iran in a different light. The company's owner Amir Mousavi said how Russians are interested in visiting Iran, whether halal tourism is attractive to them, what difficulties they have, and how the tourism industry has changed with the introduction of tough US sanctions on Iran.

How long have you been working in tourism? How comfortable is it to promote halal tourism?

Amir Mousavi said: I have been living in Tatarstan for a long time, I have my own carpet business. We've not been in the tourism sector we've so long. For the first time my company has taken part in the Russia Halal Expo.

During the 2018 World Cup a lot of tourists from Iran came to Tatarstan. I must thank the leadership of the republic for creating all the necessary conditions.

Iranians love Tatarstan very much and willingly come here. On the other hand, we noticed that residents of Tatarstan are very interested in Iran, especially when the country is represented in the media in a negative way.

It is for this purpose that we decided to set up a travel agency in order to introduce Russians to the ancient culture of Iran. We are not after big financial gains in tourism; we are rather working to improve the image of Iran in the eyes of foreign tourists.

Taking into account the fact that in Iran there are a number of restrictions for foreigners, in particular with regard to clothing, halal tourism seems to be the most profitable category. More than 50 million Muslims live in the Russian Federation, so halal tours to Iran are in demand.

So you offer tours only for Muslims? Or are there any special offers developed for other tourists?

He said: We also offer basic tours to show a number of the most famous cities in Iran. There are also non-standard extreme tours with special routes.

For example, the desert rally or mountain climbing. We have organised trips for around 500 tourists from Russia in the last two years.

We also offer Iranians tours to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volga cruises (Tatarstan), as well Golden Ring tours. All our clients, especially those who have travelled to Iran for the first time, leave only positive feedback, their attitude towards Iran changes completely after they visit the country.

It is also pleasant that our countries have simplified the visa regime. This makes our work much easier.

How have the US sanctions affected Iran's tourism industry?

Amir responded: The US has failed to paralyze the tourism industry, on the contrary, it made it more attractive to foreigners. As the saying goes, the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest, foreigners want to learn more about the country that the US wants to enslave with sanctions.

In addition, the fall of Iran's national currency has made Iran much cheaper for foreigners, especially if you look at prices in foreign currency euros or dollars.

The image of Iran that has been created in the Western media is very frightening. This has led to the decline of the total number of foreign tourists to Iran.

But those who have previously visited this country, continue to come and travel around it. Therefore, I believe that the sanctions did not have a significant impact on the tourism industry in Iran.

Russia plans to develop tourist relations with Iran, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said.

The advisor at the Iranian embassy in Russia, Hassan Saleh Majd, said that Russia and Iran currently operate 8-9 flights between the countries per week and plan to restore railroad traffic between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia and Iran are also currently developing an agreement on a visa-free regime for tourist groups.

The diplomat also noted that Iran is particularly interested in more and more Russian tourists coming to Iran despite the fact that it is not the easiest direction due to strict religious laws.

The executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, Maya Lomidze, and the Vice-President of ATOR, Alexander Kurnosov, represented Russia at the meeting.


Tourism Observer

Muslim Travelers Expected To Grow To 150 million Visitors By 2020

Muslim women wear the pants when it comes to halal tourism. That’s one of the highlights from the Halal Travel 2016 report.

The study, commissioned by travel technology company Amadeus, revealed that women play an influential role in the travel decision-making process and planning.

They have a key role in destination choice.

According to the findings, women make their decisions based on word of mouth and input from family and friends.

“Women want activities to keep the whole family happy,” the report read.

The report added that women have a high level of involvement when it comes to activity bookings and extra trip preparations.

Input from the fairer sex is especially important, considering that halal tourism continues to gain traction in the travel and hospitality industry.

Muslim travelers are expected to grow to 150 million visitors by 2020. Meanwhile, expenditure from this market segment is expected to rise from US$145 billion in 2014 to US$200 billion by 2020.

The report also called for the industry to recognize diversity among Muslim holidaygoers.

An Amadeus travel agent customer said: “Muslims travelling from Egypt will not be the same as those travelling from Saudi. Even within a market, there are big differences.”

The six variables are: comfort, exploration, core family, extended family, deal-seeking and simplicity-seeking.

In addition to that, the report also outlined three themes on the needs of Muslim travelers. They are: maximizing trip value, relevant accommodation and family-friendly destinations.

As for trip value, Muslim tourists like holiday packages but find them basic and inflexible. Meanwhile, apartments and chain hotels are preferred accommodation.

When it comes to destinations, Muslim travelers prefer to explore within their comfort zones.

This includes excursions that integrate halal dining options and praying possibilities.

USA: American Travel Restrictions To Hurt Many Countries Including The USA

Seeking to capitalise on U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial new travel restrictions, companies and officials in Asia said they would target greater tourism and education ties with Muslims worried about the curbs.

Trump's Friday directive put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

In Muslim-majority Malaysia, the group CEO of Asia's largest budget airline, AirAsia, suggested countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could cash in.

"With the world now getting more isolationist it's time for ASEAN to start making it easier for tourists to come," Tony Fernandes said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Malaysia is a popular destination for tourists from the Middle East, with nearly 200,000 arriving in 2016 from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Qatar.

The country is also a key destination for medical tourism and halal tourism, with food and other products largely halal-certified.

In neighbouring Thailand, tourism officials said the U.S. ban could lift visitor numbers.

"The Middle East is a big market for us, especially in the medical tourism sector. They may choose to visit Thailand more and this may also boost our sector," Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said.

Trump has presented his ban as a way to protect the United States from Islamist militants, but it has been condemned by a growing list of foreign leaders and drawn protests by tens of thousands in American cities.

With concerns about safety and security building, some Asians were reconsidering U.S. travel plans and seeking alternatives, even though their countries were not subject to the restrictions.

"When you want to travel, especially for leisure, then you want peace of mind," said Alicia Seah, director of public relations and communications at Singapore's Dynasty Travel.

"Right now people are planning for their March-April onwards travel. They will put their travel plans (to the United States) on hold at this juncture in time."

Singaporeans may either chose to travel to the United States later in the year or explore alternative locations such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada or within Asia, she said.

Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from attacks, but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.

Keysar Trad, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said Trump's travel restrictions were not only hurting innocent people but were "bringing great damage to his own economy and to the standings of Americans internationally".

"Everyone who has relatives in America, whether they are from the countries listed or not, they are petrified of what this man is going to do to America and to their relatives," Trad told Reuters.

Some education providers had seen early signs of an impact.

Rod Jones, CEO of Australian-listed education firm Navitas Ltd, said the company had seen a downturn in inquiries for their U.S.-based English language courses.

"We have started to see students back off from the U.S. because of their concerns about potential issues they may face," Jones told analysts on an earnings call.

"But they still want to go somewhere," Jones added, identifying Canada and Australia as important alternatives. "The Canadian Prime Minister has come out and said 'if the U.S. doesn't want you, we'd love to have you' and I think it is the approach of Australia too."

Aulia Adila, 24, a young professional in the media industry in Jakarta, had been considering the United States as an option for postgraduate study.

"When Trump had a chance of winning the election this made me reconsider going to the States to study. Now that he won, and with the Muslim ban and the new migrant policy, it's becoming even more impossible and unsafe to be in America," Adila said.

"I'm considering another country where I'll feel safe."

IRAN: Kish Island With Its Pristine Sand Beaches And Coral Reefs Could Became A Big Tourist Destination

Iranian investors are pouring money into Kish island in the Gulf, hoping its white sand beaches, coral reefs and more relaxed Islamic rules, could make it a major tourism destination.

From the pristine beaches of Kish, it is only 200 kilometres across the water to Dubai — and it is the booming city state’s tens of thousands of wealthy expats that the investors are hoping to lure.

The wide, palm tree-lined boulevards that circle the island of 100 square kilometres are full of top-end cars, including luxury American models.

The buildings are modern, the hotels comfortable and new shopping centres are sprouting everywhere.

Diners pack late-night, rooftop restaurants. Women sit wearing colourful headscarves pushed right back to reveal plenty of make-up and expensive hairdos.

During the day, the men walk the long jetties in Bermuda shorts — forbidden in most parts of Iran. A motorboat zooms past, techno music blaring, with men and women sitting together.

In many ways, it looks as if little has changed since the days when the shah and his family holidayed here before the Islamic revolution of 1979. The green and white cars of the morality police are rarely seen.

Still, even though Islamic rules are less strict on Kish, they are still in force — creating a major obstacle for investors hoping to attract Western expats for short breaks from Dubai.

There are no bars or clubs — or any alcohol at all — while men and women must use separate beaches, splitting up families.

Massoud Gilani, an investment consultant who divides his time between Dubai and Kish, tries to put an optimistic spin on the issue.

Expats “can enjoy themselves in Dubai and relax here,” he said, rather hopefully.

Iran is in the midst of a tourism boom, thanks to the efforts of the current moderate government under President Hassan Rouhani to rebuild ties with the West.

Visitor numbers have leapt from 2.2 million a year in 2009 to 5.2 million in 2015, the government says, and an even bigger increase is expected this year.

But most Westerners are drawn by Iran’s ancient cities and historical treasures, rather than a beach break.

Ali Jirofti, one of the managers of Kish’s free trade zone, recognises that the island’s best hope is to focus on Muslim holidaymakers.

The priority is “high-end halal tourism,” he said.

Kish already attracts some 1.8 million visitors per year, mostly Tehranis hoping to escape not just social strictures but also the horrendous traffic and pollution of the capital.

Shopping is another big draw — Kish was the first and most significant of seven free-trade zones set up during the 1990s to attract investment and help with the import of consumer goods.

There are now some 40 hotels, and US-style malls are everywhere.

The company also wants to double the number of international flights by Kish Air and create a car-free “ecological paradise” on the nearby island of Hendorabi, where an airport, port and hotel have already been built.

Investors are also pushing health tourism, with two top-end hospitals already running on the island, boasting leading doctors, particularly plastic surgeons.

“Forty more luxury hotels of four to five stars are under construction,” said Jirofti.

“Our aim is to reach 2.6 million tourists within 10 years.”

Halal Tourism Biggest Hosted Buyer Programme

Now in its second year, The World Halal Tourism Summit brings together the global family friendly tourism community in a unique summit dedicated to the needs of family friendly travel.

Unlike other events in the Halal travel sector that only describe the issue, WHTS17 defines and drives future initiatives and industry content. The summit presents insight and solutions and brings together tourism leaders, innovators, investors and stakeholders who all share one common aim of understanding and driving the family friendly travel industry.

Family friendly tourism is one of the fastest growing areas of global tourism and excluding Hajj and Umrah,is set to surpass +$238 billion by 2019.

The sector is tailored around the travel needs of Muslim tourists who predominately seek a family friendly environment.

Primary source markets include OIC member countries supported by non-Muslim majority markets with fast growing residents Muslim populations including Europe, North America, China and India.

Halal tourists are proven to travel with more family members, stay for a longer period and ultimately spend more money than any other tourism niche. For these reasons tourism brands across the globe are adapting their services to meet the needs of these guests.

UAE: Sharjah Enjoys Halal Tourism Market

Sharjah will stake its claim to the halal travel and tourism market at this year’s World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition, which takes place in Abu Dhabi from 19-21 October. The world’s halal travel and tourism market is currently estimated to be worth US$135 billion (AED 496b) and is forecast to grow to US$200 billion (AED 735b) by 2020. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), which recently confirmed plans to invest AED 5 billion (US$ 1.4b) in tourism development projects by the year 2018, is a sponsor of the event.

Sharjah is fast developing into a key halal tourism hub and the emirate’s ongoing investment in tourism, cultural and Islamic resources makes it ideally positioned to drive future growth. Last year, Sharjah announced nearly AED 1.5 billion (US$ 408 million) worth of projects related to its year as Islamic Culture Capital alone. The projects includes a wide variety of Sharjah institutions and tourist attractions including new universities, monuments, Islamic parks, traditional markets, museums and libraries.

Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, a tourism development strategy announced by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) earlier this year, targets family tourism, Muslim tourists and those seeking art and culture. According to the SCTDA, 70 per cent of Sharjah’s tourists are families, with a high percentage of Muslim visitors. Sharjah plans to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021.

Against the backdrop of Sharjah’s investments in art, history and Islamic culture, there are large-scale resort developments aimed squarely at halal tourism and other complimentary market segments. In all, about 30 new hotels are expected to open in the emirate over the next few years catering to business, budget travel and luxury travel segments, including new properties under the management of Accor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and GHM Hotels.

In May, the construction of a new US$100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed 5-star luxury beachfront hotel and resort, the Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah, was announced, to be built over an 12,000 square metre area adjacent to Sharjah’s corniche. To be managed by global hotel operator Accor, the property is being themed in a contemporary style reflecting the cultures of the region with a focus on Islamic art and culture.

Shurooq is building the AED100 million (US$ 27m) Al Bait Hotel in the Souk Al Shanasiyah heritage site in the Heart of Sharjah, one of the region’s largest historical preservation and restoration projects.

On Sharjah’s east coast, Shurooq is developing Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan, a luxury 5-star resort, and Kalba Eco-Tourism project incorporating a waterfront development with a botanical garden, picnic park, camping site, shopping mall and a hotel.

Meanwhile, 65 kilometres off the UAE coastline on Sir Bu Nuair island, Shurooq is developing a AED 500 million (US$ 136m) eco-tourism project be completed during the next three years, including a 70- to 100-room luxury hotel with 70 serviced apartments.

World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition (WHTS15) is expected to be attended by Shariah compliant banks, hoteliers, developers, business angels, venture capitalists, investors, lawyers, and key decision makers from all over the world.

PHILIPPINES: PH Eyes More Muslim Visitors With ‘Halal’ tourism

The Philippines is accelerating its plans to position itself as a preferred destination for Muslim tourists.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has unveiled a series of initiatives as part of a major drive to create a long-term infrastructure across the country to diversify its visitor arrivals by attracting Muslim visitors- especially from the neighboring ASEAN region and the Middle East, reported Emirates 24/7.

It has now partnered with Crescent Rating, a company into Halal travel, to help build capabilities and resources as well as launch a destination marketing campaign to meet its objectives, the report said.

The relationship will see the DOT embark on a series of activities to increase awareness of the availability of Halal food, mosques, and other Muslim-friendly holiday experiences and facilities in the Philippines, said the Dubai-based news portal

GAMBIA: Sand Beach Hotel And Resort Making Mark In Gambia tourism

With Gambia Tourism Board, (GTB), tourism industry in the Smiling Coast of Africa has witnessed many a major boost in terms of product development at resort level. One among the resort developments is Sand Beach Hotel and Resort (SBHR), located in the serenity of Point Zone Kotu.

Sand Beach Hotel and Resort is a brand new exquisite facility that proudly joined the stock of emerging new and trendy resort facilities already hitting a mark in the tourism sector, since fully joining the market this season.

This cute, trendy and exquisite resort facility is the home-grown and brainchild of Farimang Max Mane, a dynamic Gambian entrepreneur with vast experience in the hospitality industry. He’s a proprietor and CEO who has earned a name for himself as a leading travel specialist in the dynamic Scandinavian travel scene, and a savvy tourism entrepreneur.

Set on its own private beach and nestled within the pristine surroundings of Kotu tourism cluster, just a stone’s throw from the Palma Rima Junction, Sand Beach Hotel and Resort offers guests luxury accommodation, fine food and wine; while also providing access to the latest in spa technology, and an extensive range of holistic therapies and entertainment at the Galaxy- a mega entertainment complex located on the main Senegambia Highway.

Sand Beach Hotel and Resort has all it takes to satisfy the appetite of the most discerning and active tourists, as well as the laidback sun craver, given the range of cosy facilities available in the hotel and on the vast expanse of the unspoilt beach. It is therefore no surprise to see delightful holiday makers frolicking leisurely around the beach front and near the pool side, which serves as a magnet for those who just want to chill out in the Gambian sun.

The design and decor of the hotel has put on board the latest imagination in hospitality with 30 spacious villas and 20 comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a functional swimming pool, including the African inspired “Bantaba” restaurant, all designed to suit the taste, and budget of all categories of guests from the trendy holidaymakers, discerning tourists to the savvy businessmen yearning for a break.

Among the villas are Dolphin, Monkey, Kingfisher, and Crocodile. Among the faciltities in Sand Beach Hotel and Resort is a mini market, clinic with doctors, gym, and full wifi. All these and more make it a convenient place for your different activities. Apart from relaxation it is a place for hosting events such as conference/seminar, birthday party, reception, shooting of movies with panoramic stage.

“Tourists are becoming more discerning”, thus the felt need to craft a more imaginative product that suits the taste and needs of all category of tourists and other visitors to the Smiling Coast says, Farimang Mane, General Manager of the resort.

This is all the more reason “the Galaxy – a major entertainment and spa complex has also been developed alongside the resort, managed by Musa Mane, who is also a partner in this family venture. The motivation for this investment is purely because “tourists and related clientele are beginning to realize the need to invest more in themselves.

They want their holidays to have a purpose to relax, to eat well, to have fun and to unwind the body and soul. When it comes to hospitality; we are second to none and we strive hard to exceed guests’ expectations by providing not only high quality service, but service with a smile, recognising that guests from diverse socio-cultural orientations come to the resort with different objectives and we focus on achieving them, whatever they may be.” the general manager was quoted as saying.

“This and more reasons we are making a foray into Halal tourism, which has recently become an increasingly popular niche within the travel and holiday industry. The product is tailored around the needs of Muslim tourists and travellers, which has become a lucrative tourism niche.

In this regard we want to take a cue from Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, who has exhorted us all to be in-ward looking and value our heritage. This is our inspiration and we are ready to develop Halal Tourism as an emerging niche to complement our already existing tourism products and services with a view to making The Gambia a world class tourism and business centre.” He revealed.

Accordingly, Mane fondly called Max further disclosed that a brand new company, Al- Baraka Halal Hotels and Resorts Gambia Ltd has been launched to develop and promote halal hotel concept, and already plans are in the pipeline to attend the 4th Conference on Halal Tourism slated to take place from the 16th – 18th January 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey with a view to networking with the global private sector Halal and Islamic Tourism stakeholders and investors.

In that regard, The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey has been very supportive in terms of providing the necessary contacts and information about Halal Tourism, given that Turkey is one of the foremost destinations for Islamic friendly tourism.”

Mane further emphasised that the brand value and essence of Sand Beach Hotel and Resort Ltd and Al-Baraka Halal Hotel Group is premised on innovative service delivery “The travelling market is tired of going for a beach holiday, they want more and we should recognise this and provide a holiday with a purpose”.

RUSSIA: Russia Launches Halal Tourism

Although Russia offers plenty of opportunities to take a break from traditional Islamic customs, the country's federal tourism body launched a "halal-friendly" tour of the Russian winter to visitors of Gulf Arab states more used to the surrounding desert.

Russia aims to attract tourists from Persian Gulf countries through a "halal-friendly" tourism program, deputy head of Russia's Federal Tourism Agency Sergei Korneyev said at the opening of the VisitRussia tourism office in Dubai.

According to the tourism chief, Russia seeks to begin the project in Dubai as it is one of the the largest transportation hubs in Asia, and then expand the program to other countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Another project would be to show the Russian winter to tourists from Gulf monarchies, who are more used to a desert climate.

Halal is a term referring to foods and drinks permissible for Muslims to eat and drink. Approximately 6.5 percent of Russia's population identify themselves as practicing Muslims.

"We have very serious intentions regarding tourists from Persian Gulf countries.To our great amazement, we realized that Russia has not represented itself as a tourist destination not only in Dubai, but also in the UAE and the Middle East in general, which is wrong. Today's tourist product, which Russia offers, suits them, especially under the condition of beneficial exchange rate," Korneyev said.

The Halal-friendly program seeks to show tourists Russia's ties to the Muslim world, and may include such things as menus in Arabic. Korneyev added that the tourism body would promote not only a halal cuisine-focused tour, but also the culinary diversity of Russia as a whole.

The Russian winter could also become a tourist attraction to tourists from Gulf states, Korneyev said, bringing up past experience.

"It's such a bold experiment for residents of southern countries, but we tried bringing in a group of journalists and tourism industry representatives to Saint Petersburg in the winter, and they said that a lot of them liked the experience," Korneyev added.

UAE: Halal Tourism Grows As Travel Companies Cater To Muslim Faithful

A rental company in Orlando, Florida, is offering "halal vacation homes" with curtained pool decks and rooms with prayer mats and copies of the Quran. A British company's app lists gourmet restaurants serving halal meat in London and Dubai, while a Boston-based developer's app offers travel guides for 90 cities with local prayer times and a compass pointing Muslims toward Mecca for daily prayers.

The so-called "halal tourism" market was once seen as a niche revenue stream, limited to pilgrimages like the multi-billion dollar-a-year revenue stream generated by Muslim travelers to Mecca. But now there's a movement in the tourism industry to widen the "halal tourism" market to cater to Muslim travelers worldwide, particularly those from wealthy Gulf Arab states.

Travelers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman will spend $64 billion traveling this year and are expected to spend $216 billion by 2030, according to a 2014 study for the travel tech company Amadeus. The study found that, on average, a traveler from these countries spends around $9,900 per trip outside the Gulf. For Emiratis, the figure reaches $10,400.

Halal Tourism - Businesses Seek To Cater To Wealthy Muslim Travelers

American Halal Vacation Homes booth at The World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Halal tourism is growing as the hospitality industry seeks ways to better serve Muslim travelers, from providing alcohol-free venues to swimming areas that are segregated by gender.

A rental company in Orlando, Florida, is offering "halal vacation homes" with curtained pool decks and rooms with prayer mats and copies of the Quran. A British company's app lists gourmet restaurants serving halal meat in London and Dubai, while a Boston-based developer's app offers travel guides for 90 cities with local prayer times and a compass pointing Muslims toward Mecca for daily prayers.

The so-called "halal tourism" market was once seen as a niche revenue stream, limited to pilgrimages like the multi-billion dollar-a-year revenue stream generated by Muslim travelers to Mecca.

But now there's a movement in the tourism industry to widen the "halal tourism" market to cater to Muslim travelers worldwide, particularly those from wealthy Gulf Arab states.

Travelers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman will spend $64 billion traveling this year and are expected to spend $216 billion by 2030, according to a 2014 study for the travel tech company Amadeus. The study found that, on average, a traveler from these countries spends around $9,900 per trip outside the Gulf. For Emiratis, the figure reaches $10,400.

Reem El Shafaki, a senior associate at the advisory firm Dinar Standard, said Ritz-Carlton hotels in Dallas and New York offer a good example of what hotels are doing to better serve Muslim guests. They provide halal meals upon request, have Middle Eastern chefs on staff, offer rooms with spaces that allow for gender-segregated settings and have trained frontline staff on other cultural norms.

Dinar Standard has conducted webinars for Marriott hotel staff on how to take care of Muslim guests, but El Shafaki says the hospitality industry can also market to Muslims without alienating non-Muslims. "What some hotels and destinations are doing is that they're using the term 'family friendly'," she said at a conference this week in Abu Dhabi, which brought people from across the budding industry to explore the topic.

Halal in Islam literally means that which is permissible. Observant Muslims typically avoid alcohol and areas where there can be excessive nudity, like beaches and nightclubs. For women who adhere to Islam's modest dress code, swimming can pose a challenge. That means resorts that offer gender-segregated beaches and pools have an advantage.

Roberto Silva of Florida Reality Investments says the company took 50 of its rental properties and outfitted them with a few changes, like curtains around the pool deck, to make them more comfortable for their many Gulf Arab customers, who often travel as large families to Orlando for several weeks at a time and want to be near Disney World and other parks.

"I would love to do more in Los Angeles and San Diego, there are a lot of people going there, and also New York," he said from his stand at the World Halal Travel Summit and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

Along Turkey's southern coast, several all-inclusive resorts have expansive private beaches and pools for women. One resort even built a structure in the sea to keep people on boats from catching a glimpse. Malaysia is also aggressively seeking more Muslim tourists, promoting itself as "Muslim-friendly Malaysia" in brochures at the Abu Dhabi conference.

Elnur Seyidli, chairman of a website called Halal Booking, says his company has served 43,000 customers from 75 countries. The website can filter requests to find hotels that do not serve any alcohol, or hotels that only serve alcohol in some restaurants. For meat, which should be slaughtered according to Islamic rules, the website offers filters ranging from food that is all halal, or halal meat available upon request.

"It's about permissibility. Nothing is 100 percent halal in my opinion and nothing is 100 percent non-halal," he told an audience at the summit. "Even for individual travelers for different trips, requirements may change."

For those not interested in a shawarma (grilled meat) wrap on the go, Halal Gems is an app that lists gourmet halal eats in London and Dubai. The app's founder Zohra Khaku says she's raised money by charging listed restaurants an annual fee. In Dubai, though, the challenge isn't so much finding halal food, but finding the best gourmet options, or as she calls it, "curated halal dining."

Irfan Ahmad is another app developer tapping into the Muslim market. His app, called Irhal, lists sightseeing and shopping as well as maps for mosques and halal restaurants. It also comes with a compass to help Muslims find the direction of prayer toward Mecca. The app, available in both English and Arabic, has been downloaded more than 25,000 times, he said, and covers 90 cities worldwide, ranging from Amsterdam and Athens to Beijing and Bangkok, as well as U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, New York and Washington D.C.

The idea was sparked by his personal struggles finding halal food in Europe, as well as not knowing when it was dawn or dusk in different cities, which affects Muslim prayer times. He's looking for around $1 million in investment to expand and include more cities.

"Just like any startup, one of the biggest challenges is funding ourselves," he said. "We've been able to fund the entire project on our own by bootstrapping."

UAE: Halal Tourism Market Steady In UAE

Investments in the halal (Islamic Sharia-compliant) tourism in the United Arab Emirates are projected to reach $350 million in the next five years as the sector continues to gain momentum. Andy Buchanan, the Director of the World Halal Travel Summit and Exhibition, told Al-Ittihad that the investments will materialize in new halal hotels and resorts.

The summit will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in October. He said the United Arab Emirates is the fastest-growing halal market in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in terms of attracting or exporting halal tourism products.

Currently, according to Buchanan, there are 30 halal tourism brands, including four major hotel groups such as R Hotels, HMH Hotels, Jannah Hotels and Resorts, and One to One hotels and resorts. Halal tourism entails offering fully Islamic Sharia-compliant services and products by hotels, restaurants, malls, entertainment places; they must also be family-friendly. Buchanan noted that Turkey remains the world’s top halal tourism destination.

Globally, the value of halal tourism is estimated at $137 billion and is projected to surge to $230 billion by 2020. Spending on halal tourism is expected to grow by six percent, which is double the projection of growth in global tourism in general, Buchanan adds, indicating that halal tourism will comprise 13 percent of global tourism.