Muslim Tourism Growth Rate Increasing Enormously

The global Muslim tourism market is rapidly expanding, with significant growth expected in the coming years. According to the report “Global Muslim Lifestyle Travel Market: Landscape & Consumer Needs,” Muslim tourists represented a niche market worth $126.1 billion in 2011. This segment is growing at an impressive rate of 4.8% annually, surpassing the global tourism growth average of 3.8%. By 2020, the Muslim tourism market is projected to reach $192 billion, accounting for 13.4% of global tourism expenditure. This growth trajectory underscores the increasing influence of Muslim travelers on the global tourism industry.

The study highlights the substantial opportunities for airlines, tourism destinations, and hospitality businesses to tap into this lucrative market. With a young and dynamic demographic, Muslim tourists are increasingly asserting their unique needs and preferences, which presents a lucrative opportunity for tailored services and offerings.

Key findings of the study include:

• Market Size and Growth: The Muslim tourism market, valued at $126.1 billion in 2011, represents 12.3% of the global tourism expenditure. It is set to grow to $192 billion by 2020, making it a larger market than Germany and nearly double that of China in 2011.
• Market Drivers: The study identifies critical factors driving Muslim tourism, including the demand for Halal food, family-friendly environments, accommodations that respect religious practices, gender relations, and overall Muslim-friendly experiences.
• Regional Insights: MENA (Middle East and North Africa) markets accounted for 60% of the global Muslim tourist outbound expenditure in 2011. Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Indonesia, and Kuwait were the top outbound Muslim tourism source countries. Additionally, Muslim communities in non-Muslim countries like Germany, Russia, France, and the UK also contribute significantly to outbound tourism expenditure.
• Top Destinations: Malaysia, Turkey, and UAE are the most popular destinations for Muslim tourists, followed by Singapore, Russia, China, France, Thailand, and Italy.

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of Crescentrating, emphasized the need for a comprehensive study on the Muslim lifestyle travel market. He stated, “This study highlights how to evaluate the potential of the Muslim lifestyle travel market by region and develop key engagement frameworks for a high-impact market strategy.”

Rafi-uddin Shikoh, Managing Director of DinarStandard, noted, “Muslim tourists represent a potentially massive untapped market. Airlines, destinations, and hotels can benefit greatly by addressing lifestyle travel needs such as Halal food, family-friendly environments, and religious accommodations.”

The report, a collaboration between DinarStandard and Crescentrating, offers valuable insights for businesses looking to engage with this growing segment of travelers and capitalize on the increasing demand for Muslim-friendly travel options.