REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Ministry of Tourism has made the development of Muslim-friendly tourism one of the strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of the national tourism sector. The move is aimed at capturing the potential global Muslim tourist market, which is projected to reach 262 million trips by 2030.
The Expert Staff for Digital Transformation and Tourism Innovation of the Ministry of Tourism Masruroh said that the development of Muslim-friendly tourism has been one of the focuses in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) through diversification of tourist products.
“One of the diversification focuses to enhance the strengthening of tourism competitiveness and national economic development is Muslim-friendly tourism,” Masruroh said during Indonesia Sharia Forum (ISF) 2026 hosted by Republika in Jakarta on Wednesday (2/7/2026).
According to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), the number of Muslim travelers globally is expected to reach 262 million by 2030. According to Masruroh, the trend is a great opportunity that Indonesia needs to take advantage of.
He stressed that the concept of Muslim-friendly tourism does not turn tourist destinations into religious destinations or “demystify” destinations. The concept focuses on providing services that make it easier for Muslim tourists to perform worship during their travels.
“Muslim-friendly tourism does not simplify destinations, but provides extended services related to amenities, attractions, and accessibility to meet the needs of Muslim tourists,” Masruroh said.
Such services include the ease of finding places of prayer, ablution facilities, to the availability of halal food. According to Masruroh, Muslim travelers want to enjoy travel like other travelers without abandoning their religious obligations.
He added that global halal consumption by 2024 will reach about 2.6 trillion US dollars. Of these, the Muslim-friendly tourism sector accounts for about 11.2 percent, suggesting the halal lifestyle has grown into a part of the global economy.
Masruroh said the world's Muslim population is expected to reach 2.2 billion by 2026, or more than 26 percent of the global population, rising to 2.5 billion by 2036. About 71 percent of the global Muslim population is under the age of 40, making it a potential market for the tourism industry.
According to Masruroh, Asia is also a strategic area for the Muslim tourist market. The region receives about 128 million Muslim arrivals out of a total of 616 million global tourists, higher than Europe, which receives about 45 million Muslim tourists.
Indonesia, Masruroh continued, has strong capital to become a major player in Muslim-friendly tourism because it has about 11.3 percent of the world's Muslim population, 17 percent of Asia's Muslim population, and 86 percent of the Muslim population of ASEAN. In addition, 19 provinces with Muslim populations above 90 percent were rated as supporting the development of Muslim-friendly tourist destinations.
“Indonesia should not only be a global Muslim tourist market, but should be a natural ecosystem for the development of Muslim-friendly tourism that can provide added value to the national economy and local communities,” Masruroh said.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika