Turkey Ranks 4th in Global Halal Tourism
Turkey is 4th in halal tourism globally. The market, projected to reach 750 billion lira by 2020, currently has Malaysia, the UAE, and Indonesia ahead of Turkey, in that order.
Alongside Turkey's 4th-place ranking, interest in halal tourism, travel and holidays that respect religious sensitivities, is rising by the day. The halal tourism market is projected to reach 180 million tourists and a total volume of 750 billion lira by 2020. Worldwide there are about 350 accommodation properties offering halal holiday services, and 160 of these are in Turkey. For travelers who want their holidays to align with Islamic belief and practice, halal properties offer quiet rooms suitable for worship, no alcoholic drinks on site, separate swimming pools for women and men, and dedicated family services. Globally, there are around 400 properties offering halal holidays, and 160 of them are in Turkey.
Malaysia Leads Halal Tourism
On the Global Muslim Travel Index, Turkey ranks 4th. The list is based on criteria such as availability of halal food and suitable accommodation for Muslim families. Malaysia holds first place, followed by the UAE, Indonesia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Kazakhstan is the highest-ranked former Soviet state at 17th. Kyrgyzstan is 25th, Tajikistan 26th, and Uzbekistan 28th. If countries with majority Muslim populations are excluded, Thailand leads the list and Russia holds 16th place.
Despite having a population of 145 million including 20 million Muslims, Russia lags significantly in the halal tourism market.
According to the Global Muslim Travel Index, Russia ranks 44th in halal tourism this year, up from 49th last year. The Muslim tourism market is projected to reach a 750-billion-lira volume by 2020.
