Halal tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global travel market. But what exactly is it, and what makes it so popular? This article explains what halal tourism is, why it is growing and which destinations cater for halal travellers.
What is halal tourism?
Halal tourism (also known as Muslim-friendly tourism) is a branch of tourism aimed at people of the Muslim faith. It involves travel to destinations, hotels and attractions that cater for Muslim travellers’ needs – for example by serving halal food, not serving alcohol or pork, providing prayer facilities and offering segregated or private swimming pools and spa areas. It is related to, but distinct from, religious tourism such as the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
What does halal mean
But what exactly is halal? It is a principle followed by Muslims around the world. According to the Halal Monitoring Committee, it is: an Arabic term which means permissible or lawful in Islam. In reference to food, it is the Islamic dietary standard, as prescribed in the Shari’ah (Islamic Law). And in the Qur’an it directly contrasts to things which are haram, or not allowed: haram is another Arabic term which means impermissible or unlawful in Islam.
Halal most commonly refers to food. There are certain foods (animals) which Muslim people are allowed to eat, and on top of this they must have been slaughtered in a particular – halal – way. The following information is also provided by the aforementioned Halal Monitoring Committee.
Halal animals
The following animals are fit for Muslim consumption:
- All domestic birds
- All cattle
- Sheep
- Goats
- Camels
- All types of buck
- Rabbits
- Fish
- Locusts
The aforementioned animals excluding fish and locusts will only be considered Halal when they are slaughtered according to the following guidelines:
- The slaughter man must be a Muslim
- Prior to slaughter, the slaughter man must invoke the name of Allah upon the animal to be slaughtered by reciting “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” or at the very least recite “Bismillah”
- He must immediately slaughter the animal after the recital without any significant delay
- His knife must be extremely sharp in order that the slaughter may be conducted efficiently and easily and the animal suffers minimal agony
- He must sever the following arteries:
- Trachea (windpipe), Oesophagus (gullet), both Jugular Veins
- If it is not possible for the slaughter man to cut all four arteries due to whatever reason then he must sever at least three in order to render the meat Halal.
- He must conduct the slaughter manually (i.e. by hand) and swiftly. The knife must not be lifted before the cut is complete and the cut must be below the Adam’s apple
Other halal issues
Halal extends beyond meat. It also applies to certain ways of living. For example, in order to be halal one must not consume alcohol, or do anything else which is classed as being haram. This includes halal tourism, as will be explored in this blog post, and halal banking/finance – which involves banking and financial activities which are in compliance with Shari’ah law.
The growth of halal tourism
There has been significant growth in the number of halal tourists in recent years. According to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025, there were an estimated 176 million Muslim international tourist arrivals in 2024, up from 160 million before the pandemic in 2019 and 108 million in 2013, and this figure is forecast to reach around 245 million by 2030. Malaysia and Indonesia have consistently topped the GMTI rankings of Muslim-friendly destinations, while Singapore has led the rankings for non-Muslim-majority destinations. Research by the Pew Research Center also found that Muslims were the fastest-growing major religious group in the world between 2010 and 2020, so continued growth in this market is likely.
It is the younger generation who are encouraging the growth of this sector. In the past, much Muslim travel was for pilgrimage or other religious purposes. Young people, however, are more likely to want to explore places outside of this; to see more of the world and make holiday memories like their non-Muslim peers. Faiza Khan, a marketing lecturer, says that ‘you get this new, younger generation who may not necessarily want to keep going back to their home countries all the time. They’re more exposed to the world, and they want to see more. But they want to do it without compromising on some of their religious values.’
With this in mind, tourism companies are capitalising on halal tourism, opening resorts and creating packages that allow Muslim travellers to holiday in a way that aligns with their beliefs, religion and way of life. Niche markets such as halal travel can also be a valuable specialism for independent travel agents.
Halal tourist resorts
Halal tourist resorts are hotels or whole resorts which cater to the halal way of life. This typically means they don’t serve alcohol, serve only halal food, and offer separate pools, beaches or spa facilities for women (or for families). They often have prayer rooms and are frequently, but not always, located in countries where Islam is the most commonly followed religion.
There are booking sites which specialise in halal-friendly hotels and resorts, such as HalalBooking.com. HalalBooking allows guests to narrow down their selection as to whether they want entirely alcohol-free properties, some or all halal food, the level of ladies’ privacy on offer and so on.
Halal tourism destinations
There are many destinations now offering halal friendly holidays. Below you’ll find some of the most popular, as well as a look at some places which don’t offer much in the way of halal tourism…
Halal tourism in Indonesia
Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, with around 87% of the population identifying as Muslim, so it comes as no surprise that halal tourism is popular here. The island of Lombok has been heavily promoted as a halal tourism destination and won ‘World’s Best Halal Tourism Destination’ at the World Halal Tourism Awards in 2015.
Halal booking platforms list a wide range of Indonesian properties that are completely alcohol-free and only serve halal food. Examples have included the Sylvia Resort Komodo in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park, and Ketapang Resort in Cisolok, West Java, both of which serve only halal food and allow modest swimwear in their pools.
Halal tourism in Turkey
Islam is the dominant religion in Turkey, with more than 90% of the population being Muslim. The sound of the call to prayer is one many tourists will associate with Turkey, and the country has many options for those looking for halal tourism.
Halal booking platforms list dozens of Turkish properties that serve only halal food and no alcohol, many of them along the Mediterranean coast. One such hotel is the Wome Deluxe in beautiful Antalya. There is no alcohol on the property, halal food only and there are plenty of ladies-only areas such as a beach space, pool and spa. There are mixed-gender facilities too but for those wanting a female-only space, it is available.
Another option is the Villa Alya Boutique Hotel in Marmaris, offering private 3-bedroom villas each with their own secluded pool. There is also a mixed-gender beach with a modest swimwear policy. No alcohol is served here and all food is halal.
Halal tourism in Croatia
Croatia has seen growing numbers of visitors from the Middle East, the Gulf and North Africa in recent years. To attract Muslim travellers, Croatia has developed a national halal certification scheme for hotels, restaurants and food producers.
While there aren’t many places to stay which are specifically designed for Muslim travellers, there are halal-friendly options in Croatia, mainly in popular destinations such as Dubrovnik and the capital, Zagreb. In Dubrovnik, for example, hotels such as the Valamar Lacroma have offered halal food options.
Halal tourism in the Caribbean
Halal tourism is not something you’ll commonly find in the Caribbean, as Islam is not a dominant religion in any Caribbean country. It is most widely followed in Suriname (a member of the Caribbean Community, though located on the South American mainland), where around 14% of the population is Muslim. That said, some resorts have created halal packages – for example, The Palms Resort in Barbados has offered a ‘Barbados Halal Experience’, with certified halal food, a private pool for women and a Muslim chef.
Halal tourism in Malta
There are a lot of hotels in Malta which have halal food on the menu. Again, it is not somewhere where you’ll find many specifically halal hotels; halal booking platforms list many hotels, but most only fall into the categories of ‘halal food on request’, or have private and secluded spas which in themselves are halal-friendly.
Villa Layla in Gozo, as with any self-catering property if you choose to have it this way, is labelled as a non-alcohol property. However, all villas and self-catered holiday stays can be alcohol-free if you just don’t bring any alcohol; this is not specifically done for halal tourism purposes! MYN in Rabat is a hotel which is alcohol-free however – but it doesn’t serve halal food. This means a halal holiday in Malta might not be so easily come by…
Halal tourism: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about halal tourism.
What is halal tourism?
Halal tourism, or Muslim-friendly tourism, is tourism designed for Muslim travellers. It includes hotels, resorts and services that offer halal food, no alcohol, prayer facilities and private or segregated leisure facilities.
How big is the halal tourism market?
According to the Global Muslim Travel Index 2025, there were around 176 million Muslim international tourist arrivals in 2024, and this is forecast to reach around 245 million by 2030.
Which countries are best for halal tourism?
Malaysia and Indonesia have consistently ranked top in the Global Muslim Travel Index, alongside destinations such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Singapore leads the rankings for non-Muslim-majority destinations.
What is the difference between halal tourism and religious tourism?
Religious tourism involves travelling for religious purposes, such as the Hajj pilgrimage. Halal tourism refers to leisure travel that is compatible with Islamic principles, such as a beach holiday at an alcohol-free resort with halal food.
Why is halal tourism growing?
Halal tourism is growing because of a young and growing global Muslim population, rising incomes, better access to halal-friendly services and booking platforms, and a younger generation wanting to travel widely without compromising their religious values.
Halal tourism- further reading
If you found this article on halal tourism useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- What is religious tourism?
- What is special interest tourism and why is it so popular?
- What is alternative tourism and why is it growing so fast?
- 150 types of tourism: A glossary
- What is dental tourism and why does it exist?
- What is film tourism and why does it matter?
