(VOVWORLD) - After the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Muslim tourists (Halal tourism) traveling to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, has increased. Quang Ninh province has prepared the best conditions to serve the special guests.
 Quang Ninh holds a seminar on measures to exploit Halal tourism. (photo: VOV) |
Delasea Ha Long is currently the only 5-star hotel in Quang Ninh qualified to welcome Muslim guests. It has reserved 2 floors for private living space with a completely separate kitchen area. 36 rooms have been renovated and decorated according to Halal tourism standards.
All rooms for Halal guests have carpets and prayer dresses for women. There are separate corners of worship and a community prayer room. These are the key requirements that the Muslims seek in their accommodation when traveling.
Lê Thanh Tam, Director of Delasea Ha Long Hotel said, they have consulted with experts on culture, religion, and cuisine to prepare for Halal tourism.
“We invited Muslim experts from Malaysia to train our staff. We have a Palestinian chef and a Halal food expert to teach cooking and serving according to Halal standards,” said Tam.
 A room for Muslim tourists at Delasea Ha Long Hotel (photo: VOV) |
Quang Ninh’s Tourism Department has organized meetings with Halal experts, the National Administration of Tourism, and travel agencies to discuss measures to meet Muslim travel needs.
Tran Van Tan Cuong, Director of Halal Company, said: “Quang Ninh has met a lot of Halal conditions but it’s necessary to build accommodations and restaurants with Halal certificates to suit Muslim etiquette. When traveling, Muslim people care most about food, then accommodations and services. If the accommodation has a community prayer room, it is a very good point to satisfy its guests.”
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said the pattern of foreign tourists coming to Vietnam has recently changed, especially Muslim tourists. Experts have forecast that Halal tourism will prosper next year. Most Muslim visitors to Vietnam currently stay in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City because they have many mosques and restaurants for Muslims.
 Muslim experts from Malaysia introduce Halal food. (photo: VOV) |
Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said: “Vietnam’s tourism sector has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize a meeting with the heads of Vietnam’s offices and the ambassadors of Muslim countries in Vietnam to discuss measures to boost cooperation with bilateral tourism. Tourism businesses can approach the needs and desires of the Muslims in order to build products and services and improve facilities to welcome tourists.”
The Muslim community accounts for one fourth of the world’s population. Every year about 140 million Muslims travel and this number is expected to increase to 280 million by 2028 with spending likely to reach 225 billion USD.
Many tourism centers in the world, especially in Southeast Asia, are preparing very carefully to welcome the potential flow of Muslim tourists. Vietnam and Quang Ninh province in particular are no exception. Effectively welcoming Muslim tourists will help Vietnam recover the tourism industry and restructure the international tourism market sustainably.