article
Current Trends and Future
Outlook for Global Tourism and Hospitality
5.3.2 Concept of Travel and Tourism from
Islamic Perspective
TRAVEL &
TOURISM
·
The definition of ‘tourist’ and ‘Muslim
tourist’ would be different due to the activities, experiences, motivations,
demands and the concept of its segment.
Generally, Muslim traveller travel in order to visit friends and
relatives or other purposes with full appreciation of the greatness creation of
God’s world.
·
Islam encouraged all Muslims to travel around
the world. Tourism is one of the main generating factors to Malaysian economic
growth which has contributed large amount of income to the country and in
principle; Islam is totally accepting of business in tourism as defined the
Holy Koran and the Hadiths.
·
Islamic tourism industry shows a positive
growth and continues to be one of the top contributors in the service sector to
the national economy.
ISLAMIC TOURISM
·
Islamic tourism is principally a different
‘touristic’ version of pilgrimage that unifies religious and leisure tourism
which proposed as an alternative to the hedonic conceptualization of mass
tourism. Muslims are encouraged to practice such type of tourism activities for
historical, social and cultural encounters, to gain knowledge, to associate
with others, to spread God’s word and to enjoy and appreciate God’s creations.
·
According to the Holy Qur’an there are
thirteen (13) verses that encouraged people to travel or ziarah places of attractions as stipulated in (Al-Imran:137; Al-
An‟am:11; Yusof:109; Al-Nahal:36; Al-Hajj:46; An-Naml:69; Al-Ankabut:20; Ar-
Rum:9,42; Fatir:44; Ghafir:21,82; Muhammad:10). Through these Qur’anic verses
Allah (SWT) calls us to travel different countries of this globe to visit the
historical places with having intense intention to know the consequent of
previous generations.
POSITIVE
IMPACT OF ISLAMIC TOURISM
1.
Economy
·
Tourism is seen as a platform to foster closer
cooperation between government institutions around the world. It can also
enhance tourism activities among Muslims by contributing to the creation of new
tourism product destinations.
·
Islamic tourism provides a lot of job
opportunities for local people especially for those who are emphasizing the
Islamic lifestyle. For example, in hospitality, this industry usually hardly
hiring workers who are wearing hijab especially in the hotel industry.
2.
Politic
·
The development of Islamic tourism denotes
that Malaysia is a Muslim country which has put a lot of efforts to develop
Islamic tourism products including new Islamic theme attractions such an
Islamic Civilization Park (TTI).
·
To balance the needs and demands of mass
tourists, Malaysia developed the lavishness tourism products for them. In this
context, it indicates that politics in Malaysia have emphasized high tolerance
and consideration to balance the mass tourism and Islamic tourism to its
tourists.
NEGATIVE
IMPACT OF ISLAMIC TOURISM
1.
Environment
·
Islamic tourism contributes less environmental
impacts since this product usually related to the place with controlled
activities such as visitation to mosques, pertaining Halal food and high
consideration to cleanliness since Islam taught is very particular about it. Since
the activities of Islamic tourism consist the appreciation of God’s creations,
less vandalism will happen to the environment due to the belief that the
environment is also the creatures of God that need to be conserved and
preserved.
SUGGESTION
1.
Set Islamic tourism targets as part of
national tourism growth targets.
2.
Identify and facilitate Islamic tourism
marketing strategy development for the industry.
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