Call For Setting Up Of ASEAN Secretariat To Boost Islamic Tourism Industry

ALOR GAJAH (Melaka, Malaysia) Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The Tourism and Culture Ministry has proposed for the setting up of a secretariat at ASEAN level to boost the Islamic tourism industry at the international level. Its Deputy Minister, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said the initiative should be given proper attention as Islamic tourism had a very big market and capable of generating high revenue. "Approximately 1.7 billion people in the world are Muslims, of whom 1.1 billion are from the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) countries and 240 million are from ASEAN countries. So, this opportunity should be used wisely and quickly. "It is also in line with the government's aspiration to have 30.5 million tourist arrivals who will contribute US$ 23.998 billion (RM103 billion) to the country's economy next year," she told reporters after opening the state-level Consumer Power Carnival 2015 here Friday. She said she proposed the matter at the Joint Seminar on Islamic Tourism in Bandung, Indonesia, recently. Mas Ermieyati said there were many sectors that could be developed along with the development of the Islamic tourism industry, including the halal food industry and accommodation suitable for Muslim tourists. "As such, we hope the tourism industry players in will offer more Islamic packages and services that will meet the requirements of Muslim community," she said. For the record, she said 300 hotels in the country were registered with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department. -- BERNAMA