Crescentrating pushing Halal tourism

MICE News
Friday, 07 May 2010
One of the world’s first companies to fully-focus on promoting Halal-friendly travel and tourism services made its Middle East debut at Arabian Travel Market 2010 this week.

Crescentrating - a Singapore-based company that caters for the needs of the rapidly-growing market segment of Halal-conscious travellers estimated to represent more than 10 per cent of the total global travel market - introduced its Shari’ah-compliant products and services to the Arab world during the four-day event.


With more than 1.6 billion Muslims globally, religious tourism to Saudi Arabia alone is generating US$7 billion annually, a figure which is expected to grow at 20 per cent over the next decade. There also is an increasingly affluent Arab population under 21 years of age and Halal-friendly travel is being widely tipped as one of the industry’s fastest growing market segments.


“We are seeing massive growth within this market segment and it was something we needed to be part of. To cater for demand, we have developed our very own rating system and website for travel based on a set of Halal-friendly criteria,” said Fazal Bahardeen, chief executive, Crescentrating.


“With a rating of one to seven, one being the lowest and seven being the highest, our criteria for rating include prayer-related facilities, Kibla direction in rooms, serving of Halal food as well as those that respect the fasting month of Ramadan, washroom facilities suitable for Muslims, and non-serving of alcohol,” Fazal added.


More than 100 hotels worldwide currently avail of Crescentrating’s services, including three in the UAE, four in Qatar, one in Bahrain, as well as six-rated hotels in Saudi Arabia and South Africa. In addition, a significant number of hotels located in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have also signed up for the services.


“A six-rated hotel facility is one that serves Halal food and does not serve alcohol at all. Whilst those that have been given a one-rating are those whose personnel are at the very least, trained to provide all the necessary information to Halal-conscious guests,” Fazal explained.
 

Crescentrating pushing Halal tourism

MICE News
Friday, 07 May 2010
One of the world’s first companies to fully-focus on promoting Halal-friendly travel and tourism services made its Middle East debut at Arabian Travel Market 2010 this week.

Crescentrating - a Singapore-based company that caters for the needs of the rapidly-growing market segment of Halal-conscious travellers estimated to represent more than 10 per cent of the total global travel market - introduced its Shari’ah-compliant products and services to the Arab world during the four-day event.


With more than 1.6 billion Muslims globally, religious tourism to Saudi Arabia alone is generating US$7 billion annually, a figure which is expected to grow at 20 per cent over the next decade. There also is an increasingly affluent Arab population under 21 years of age and Halal-friendly travel is being widely tipped as one of the industry’s fastest growing market segments.


“We are seeing massive growth within this market segment and it was something we needed to be part of. To cater for demand, we have developed our very own rating system and website for travel based on a set of Halal-friendly criteria,” said Fazal Bahardeen, chief executive, Crescentrating.


“With a rating of one to seven, one being the lowest and seven being the highest, our criteria for rating include prayer-related facilities, Kibla direction in rooms, serving of Halal food as well as those that respect the fasting month of Ramadan, washroom facilities suitable for Muslims, and non-serving of alcohol,” Fazal added.


More than 100 hotels worldwide currently avail of Crescentrating’s services, including three in the UAE, four in Qatar, one in Bahrain, as well as six-rated hotels in Saudi Arabia and South Africa. In addition, a significant number of hotels located in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have also signed up for the services.


“A six-rated hotel facility is one that serves Halal food and does not serve alcohol at all. Whilst those that have been given a one-rating are those whose personnel are at the very least, trained to provide all the necessary information to Halal-conscious guests,” Fazal explained.