KUALA LUMPUR: The hosting of World Islamic Tourism Forum here this week has evoked questions on the definition of "Islamic Tourism".
Does it relate to gender segregation in the use of facilities? Is it halal food? Is the focus on ornate Islamic architecture or beautiful mosques? When the New Straits Times asked around, many seemed to associate the term with religious visits to Islam's holy places and historical sites and also visits and tours to Muslim-majority countries.
A civil servant, Fatima Zahra, 28, responded to NST's query on Facebook about the topic by asking a reporter if the term meant that the tour would be syariah compliant such as providing halal meals and observing the time for prayers or did it just simply mean visiting historical Islamic places.
While many regard this as symbolic of Islam, there are many other aspects that make up Islamic tourism. This was the subject dwelt upon and discussed at length by participants of the World Islamic Tourism Forum this year for two days at the Seri Pacific Hotel here.
Themed "Enhancing the Spirit of Global Understanding Through Islamic Tourism", the forum also discussed and addressed issues surrounding the misconception of Islam and the Muslim community worldwide due to the negative publicity given by the Western media.
Organised by the Global Islamic Tourism Organisation Malaysia and the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies and also supported by Tourism Malaysia, about 200 people attended the forum where issues ranging from Islamic tourism, the halal industry and Islamic hospitality were discussed.
In his opening address at the forum on Tuesday, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi acknowledged that Islamic tourism was still in its initial stage.
"Islamic tourism is a new brand in the contemporary world of tourism. It is a brand that will have to deal with the same issues of any conventional tourist agency. However, in the case of Islamic tourism, there are additional requirements that have to be fulfilled in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
"For example, observance of the halal requirement would be a major part of being syariah compliant. Muslims generally can only accept tourism as Islamic if this fundamental requirement is observed. Therefore, non-Muslims who want to participate in Islamic tourism would need to have sufficient understanding of the halal requirement," he said.
It was learnt that many tour operators who operate Muslim tour packages or Islamic tour packages still do not fully comprehend or understand the halal requirement.
On a trip to Singapore recently, 28-year-old technology writer Afiq Hanif was asked by the organisers whether he would mind if the restaurant they were going to had no halal certification by the authorities but did not serve pork or alcohol.
"This is a classic example of how the term halal is not really understood. Halal is not about an establishment just not serving pork or alcohol, it is about how the food is prepared. The meat needs to be slaughtered or prepared in the manner that is prescribed by Islamic law," he said.
In a discussion about the proper definition of the term, Insaniah University College Rector Prof Datuk Dr Jamil Othman said cross-case studies and academic exchanges of views among Islamic and non-Muslim hospitality practitioners were needed to enrich the knowledge base and to set guidelines for Islamic hospitality and travel.
"Terminology like Islamic hospitality, Islamic tourism, Muslim hospitality, syariah compliant hotels, Islamic hotels and halal friendly hotels have created much confusion as to which is to be used.
"Sometimes because of the lack of understanding it scares foreign visitors. This may be one of the factors that explains why major hotels are reluctant to attach the term to their brand".
By Liyana Mokhtar
news@nst.com.my
2011/07/16
A civil servant, Fatima Zahra, 28, responded to NST's query on Facebook about the topic by asking a reporter if the term meant that the tour would be syariah compliant such as providing halal meals and observing the time for prayers or did it just simply mean visiting historical Islamic places.
While many regard this as symbolic of Islam, there are many other aspects that make up Islamic tourism. This was the subject dwelt upon and discussed at length by participants of the World Islamic Tourism Forum this year for two days at the Seri Pacific Hotel here.
Themed "Enhancing the Spirit of Global Understanding Through Islamic Tourism", the forum also discussed and addressed issues surrounding the misconception of Islam and the Muslim community worldwide due to the negative publicity given by the Western media.
Organised by the Global Islamic Tourism Organisation Malaysia and the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies and also supported by Tourism Malaysia, about 200 people attended the forum where issues ranging from Islamic tourism, the halal industry and Islamic hospitality were discussed.
In his opening address at the forum on Tuesday, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi acknowledged that Islamic tourism was still in its initial stage.
"Islamic tourism is a new brand in the contemporary world of tourism. It is a brand that will have to deal with the same issues of any conventional tourist agency. However, in the case of Islamic tourism, there are additional requirements that have to be fulfilled in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
"For example, observance of the halal requirement would be a major part of being syariah compliant. Muslims generally can only accept tourism as Islamic if this fundamental requirement is observed. Therefore, non-Muslims who want to participate in Islamic tourism would need to have sufficient understanding of the halal requirement," he said.
It was learnt that many tour operators who operate Muslim tour packages or Islamic tour packages still do not fully comprehend or understand the halal requirement.
On a trip to Singapore recently, 28-year-old technology writer Afiq Hanif was asked by the organisers whether he would mind if the restaurant they were going to had no halal certification by the authorities but did not serve pork or alcohol.
"This is a classic example of how the term halal is not really understood. Halal is not about an establishment just not serving pork or alcohol, it is about how the food is prepared. The meat needs to be slaughtered or prepared in the manner that is prescribed by Islamic law," he said.
In a discussion about the proper definition of the term, Insaniah University College Rector Prof Datuk Dr Jamil Othman said cross-case studies and academic exchanges of views among Islamic and non-Muslim hospitality practitioners were needed to enrich the knowledge base and to set guidelines for Islamic hospitality and travel.
"Terminology like Islamic hospitality, Islamic tourism, Muslim hospitality, syariah compliant hotels, Islamic hotels and halal friendly hotels have created much confusion as to which is to be used.
"Sometimes because of the lack of understanding it scares foreign visitors. This may be one of the factors that explains why major hotels are reluctant to attach the term to their brand".
By Liyana Mokhtar
news@nst.com.my
2011/07/16
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