Only two weeks to go until the world’s first-ever international halal tourism conference

ANDALUCIA- There are now only two weeks to go until the world’s first-ever international halal tourism conference.

The Halal Tourism Conference 2014, which is being held in Andalucia, Spain, will bring the world’s tourism industry together to discuss the opportunities and challenges that halal tourism presents.

With a market capitalisation of $140 billion in 2013 accounting for 13% of global travel expenditures, halal tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry. It is expected to grow to $192 billion by 2020.

Over 300 delegates have already signed up the event, sponsored by Turkish Airlines, including some of the biggest names in the travel industry.  

Confirmed speakers now include renowned hoteliers, tourism ministers, halal tourism experts and marketing specialists from across the world while Sebastian Perez Ortiz, President of Granada City Council, will officially open the event with a welcome speech.

Organiser Tasneem Mahmood, Director of CM Media, said there was limited places left for anyone wanting to attend the conference which is the first time such a global event is being staged looking at halal tourism in detail.

“The Halal Tourism Conference 2014 is now taking shape into becoming one of the pioneering events in the industry across the world,” she said.

“We have some of the biggest names in the tourism industry attending and have a range of delegates from across the world. This is strengthened by the global speaker line-up we have put together which includes tourism experts from a range of fields.

“For those countries who want to understand halal tourism this event is shaping up to be a must-attend event for them.

“It will be an excellent knowledge forum and an ideal platform for exchange of experience between experts in the industry and countries who are actively engaged in halal tourism.

“This conference will also be a great way to network with leisure and travel businesses from around the world to develop new partnerships.

“For those wanting to attend there are now a limited number of tickets available before the event is at its capacity.”

The two-day event, which starts on September 22, will host around  delegates and exhibitors from the Middle East, Far East and Europe including those currently active in halal tourism and countries looking for help to break into this sector.

It includes tourism boards, tour agencies, tour operators, restaurants, media, hotels and airlines. The event will also feature seminars from industry experts, workshops, networking sessions and an exhibition.

Confirmed attendees for the conference include some of the biggest travel companies from the Middle East such as Dnata, Kanoo Travel, Al Ghanim, FM Holidays and Orient Travel.

Speakers at the event include:

• Zulkifly MD Said, Director General Islamic Tourism Centre, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia
• Esthy Reko Astuty, Director General of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia
• Hotel experts Chris Nader, Vice President, Development, Shaza Hotels, an affiliate of Kempinski Hotels and Hani Lashin, Group General Manager, Al Jawhara Group of Hotels
• Fazal Bahardeen, Founder of global halal travel experts Crescent Rating
• Elnur Seyidli, co-founder of HalalBooking.com,
• Rafi-Uddin Shikoh, CEO and Managing Director of Islamic industry research experts DinarStandard
• Anas Kasak, Director of global marketing agency McCann Reach.

The Halal Tourism Conference is being held on 22 and 23 September 2014, hosted in Andalucia, Spain.

The conference will also see the launch of the Muslim Travel Index Europe 2014 which uses travel research from residents from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Malaysian residents.

The Travel Index Europe 2014 looks at the attitudes and behaviour of majority Muslim populations to tourism in the future and their experiences of countries they have already visited in Europe.

The Halal Tourism Conference will be followed by a two day tour of the region of Andalucia to provide businesses with a live case study of a region that is becoming more Muslim friendly and is actively working to meet the needs of Muslim travellers.