The future of Halal-friendly tourism

Posted by Halal Food Council of Europe on 17 May 2013

The growth of the global Muslim population will most likely fuel the expansion of this industry over the next two decades. Muslims should “make sure (these efforts) are sustainable and socially responsible,” says Mujahid. This means being aware of whether or not Halal-friendly hotels, airlines, etc. are concerned “about the poor and the needy, about this society and its well-being. Are they giving living wages to their employees, and how are they treating workers?”

According to the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, the world's Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35 percent in the next 20 years, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030. If current trends continue, Muslims will make up 26.4 percent of the world's total projected population of 8.3 billion in 2030, up from 23.4 percent of the estimated 2010 world population. “And that means it’s a market size of beyond $200 billion. Global expenditure in 2020 overall is expected to be $1.5 trillion,” said Bahardeen. “If you are a business and are targeting a global audience, there is no way in the world you can ignore such a phenomenon.”