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Staff Writer

Staff Writers

CrescentRating boast a team of Writers who are in constant look out for news on Halal/Muslim travel market.

02 Mar 2022
Empowering Home Based Businesses Around the World with HalalTrip

Find all your favorite Home Based Businesses under one roof. HalalTrip recently unveiled a brand new directory-cum-search feature that is solely dedicated to the large number of Home Based Businesses that are currently in operation around the wo...

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24 Jan 2022
Singapore recognizes the long-term value and opportunities in Muslim segment | Keith Tan, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board

The Keynote Speech by Keith Tan, the Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, at the Halal In Travel Global Summit 2021. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Keith Tan, and I'm the Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board. I wa...

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16 Feb 2021
Choosing Halal and Muslim-Friendly Restaurants: What Every Traveler & Restaurant Owner Should Know

The availability of restaurants catering to Muslims' needs is key to attracting visitors to a city. One of the first criteria Muslim travelers look for when planning their trip is determining whether they have Halal or Muslim-friendly restauran...

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09 Feb 2021
An introduction to Muslim fasting in the month of Ramadan

Perhaps no other month in the year punctuates Muslims' lifestyles around the world more than the holy month of Ramadan. In this month, Muslims observe fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam, by abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and s...

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23 Dec 2019
What is Halal Meat: Benefits, Ethics, and Guidelines - A Complete Guide

Halal meat plays a crucial role in the dietary habits of Muslims worldwide. It's not just a type of food but a reflection of a deep-seated religious belief system and adherence to Islamic law. This article aims to demystify Halal meat, discussin...

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23 Dec 2019
What is Halal Food? A Comprehensive Guide

The Importance of Halal in the Muslim Consumer Market With the growth of the Muslim consumer market, there is a need to understand the terms used to describe the many services, needs, and practices related to this segment of consumers. Under...

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11 Apr 2018
Malaysia and Singapore retain pole positions in the US$220 Billion Muslim Travel Market- as rivals close in fast

Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2018 Malaysia and Singapore retain their position at the top of the list of OIC and non-OIC markets respectively for the eighth consecutive year Indonesia sees a rise in its position a...

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05 Dec 2017
Japan to welcome over one million Muslim tourists according to the inaugural Mastercard-CrescentRating Japan Muslim Travel Index 2017

Tokyo, 5th December 2017 – Japan is set to benefit from one of the world’s fastest growing tourism sectors by welcoming over one million Muslim visitors according to new research. The Mastercard-CrescentRating Japan Muslim Travel Index (J...

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15 Nov 2017
ILIOS Travel for Travel Services and Tours in South Africa

ILIOS Travel has made its name as one of the top travel service providers in South Africa through the introduction of its wide range of tour packages. Having made an impact in South Africa, ILIOS Travel is a travel agency that has accreditation...

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17 Oct 2017
Halal in Travel Asia Summit 2017 – Understanding the Muslim Millennial Travel Market

ITB Asia 2017 - Asia’s leading travel trade convention - is set to take place in Singapore from the 25th to 27th October 2017 at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, featuring industry leaders including CrescentRating and HalalTrip to share valuable i...

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13 Oct 2017
Avani Kalutara Resort - Muslim Friendly Resort in Sri Lanka

Avani Kalutara Resort in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, has been rewarded with a Crescent Rating based on the services and facilities it offers Muslim guests. The resort can be reached within a 2.5 hour drive from the Bandaranaike International Airport...

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11 Oct 2017
Travel Packages and Tours From Swire Travel Philippines

Swire Travel Philippines is a reputed travel service provider that has been responsible for creating innovative travel packages and services for their customers. Swire Travel Philippines has been in the travel industry for over 30 years and has ...

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06 Oct 2017
CrescentRating to Attend Uzakrota Travel Summit in Belgrade on the 27th October

Uzakrota Travel Summit will be held at Belgrade, Serbia, on the 27th of October 2017 with an aim to be the first abroad event. The summit will be held at Metropol Hotel Belgrade and will host not only personnel from tourism and media but also bu...

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02 Oct 2017
Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet – A Luxurious Muslim-Friendly Retreat in Istanbul

Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet has been awarded the highest rating of 7 by CrescentRating based on the level of Muslim-friendly facilities it offers to guests. This 5-star hotel is located 17km from Ataturk International Airport and is about 1km away f...

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12 Sep 2017
The Halal Gourmet Dining for Chefs Workshop in Cape Town - A CrescentRating Chef Accreditation Program

The Halal Gourmet Dining for Chefs workshop is a part of the CrescentRating Chef Accreditation Program which will launch in Cape Town, South Africa. The 2-day workshop on 4th & 5th October 2017 is designed for professionals who are associated wi...

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08 Sep 2017
Heritance Ahungalla – A Luxury Retreat in Ahungalla for Muslim Travelers

Heritance Ahungalla is a 5-star luxurious hotel located in Ahungalla, Galle, in Sri Lanka. The hotel has been awarded a Crescent Rating of 3 based on the Halal-friendly services that are provided for Muslim guests. Accommodation options for ...

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07 Sep 2017
Hotel Hill Top Kandy – A Muslim-Friendly Getaway in Kandy

Hotel Hill Top Kandy is a 3-star hotel located a short distance from the main city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. The hotel has been awarded a Crescent Rating of 3 based on the Halal-friendly services on offer for Muslim guests. The hotel is located with...

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21 Aug 2017
Banyan Tree Bintan – A Muslim-Friendly Resort on Bintan Island

The Banyan Tree Bintan resort has much to offer travelers who want to enjoy a Muslim-friendly getaway on Bintan Island. The resort is beautiful, allowing guests  to enjoy water sports such as jet skiing or snorkeling, as well as plenty of free-...

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13 Aug 2017
Heritance Kandalama – Luxury in Dambulla with Muslim-friendly Services

Heritance Kandalama is a 5-star luxury hotel that is located in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. The hotel has been awarded a 3-star CrescentRating based on the level of Halal-friendly facilities on offer. The hotel offers a panoramic view of the famous Da...

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19 Jul 2017
ITB Asia 2017 – A Look at Asia’s Top Travel and Trade Show

Asia’s leading travel trade convention - ITB Asia 2017 will be hosting its 10th edition of the event at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore from 25th to 27th 2017. ITB Asia 2017 which is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd wi...

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13 Jul 2017
Turyaa Kalutara – A Luxury Resort with Muslim-Friendly Facilities in Kalutara

Turyaa Kalutara is a 5-star ocean-front hotel in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, that has been awarded a 3-star Crescent Rating based on the Halal-friendly services that are available for Muslim guests. Guests can take in the scenic beach view from their r...

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09 Jul 2017
Heritance Tea Factory – A Unique Retreat In Nuwara Eliya For Muslim Travelers

The Heritance Tea Factory is a 4-star hotel located in the region of Nuwara Eliya that has been awarded with a 3-star Crescent Rating based on the Muslim-friendly facilities that are provided for Muslim guests. This unique retreat was once a ...

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28 Jun 2017
Muslim-Friendly Accommodation in Sri Lanka - Club Hotel Dolphin

Club Hotel Dolphin - located in Waikkal, Negombo in Sri Lanka - has been awarded a 3-star Crescent Rating based on the facilities and services it provides it Muslim guests.This 4-star hotel is conveniently just 20 km away from the Bandaranaike...

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28 Jun 2017
Fairmont Singapore - 5 Star Luxury in the Heart of Singapore

Awarded a 5-star Muslim-friendly rating by Crescentrating, Fairmont Singapore is a luxury 5-star hotel located in the heart of Singapore. It is found at a convenient location providing guests with easy access to the prominent shopping and busi...

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08 Jun 2017
Bintan Resorts Ties Up With CrescentRating to Lure Muslim Travellers

Bintan Resorts rolls out a series of initiatives in collaboration with CrescentRating and Halaltrip, to increase its appeal to Muslim travellers across the world with a focus on the neighbouring ASEAN region, China and the Middle East. The ne...

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24 May 2017
Muslim Millennial Travel Report to be Launched at ITB Asia 2017

Singapore, 23 May 2017 – ITB Asia, “Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show”, has extended its partnership with CrescentRating to deliver another exclusive insights programme into the multi-billion dollar Muslim travel market. According to f...

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10 May 2017
Key Segments in the Muslim Travel Market

In addition to the increasing availability of Muslim-friendly travel services, another key factor driving the demand of Muslim travel is the growth in the Muslim population itself and the rise of younger Muslim travelers. Here's a closer look at...

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09 May 2017
Mega Trends in the Muslim Consumer Market

With an expenditure of about USD 155 billion in 2016, the Muslim Travel Market is one significant contributor to the overall Muslim consumer market - which is estimated to be worth USD 2 to 3 trillion across various Halal industries of food, lif...

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08 May 2017
10 Pressing Questions Facing the Muslim Travel Segment

The Muslim Travel Market is growing amidst a dynamic landscape with various environmental factors set to change and affect businesses and consumers. While the future remains optimistic, here are 10 key questions to help the Muslim travel industr...

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03 May 2017
Mapping GMTI to User Experience & the Introduction of the ACES Tool

The launch of the Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index for the year 2017 saw the introduction of the GMTI Experience Map and the new ACES Tool - to help destinations identify and understand how they can better appeal to the Musli...

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03 May 2017
Malaysia and Singapore at the Forefront of a Projected US$220 Billion Muslim Travel Market: Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2017

Jakarta, 3 May 2017 – Malaysia and Singapore have strengthened their position as the top performing destinations of a sector expected to be worth $220 billion by 2020 according to the most comprehensive research released on the global Muslim t...

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11 Apr 2017
Earl's Regency Hotel – Accommodation With Muslim-friendly Facilities in Kandy

Earl’s Regency Hotel is a 5-star hotel located in the hills of Kandy in Sri Lanka. This luxurious hotel has been awarded Crescent Rating of 3 based on the Halal-friendly facilities that are available for Muslim guests.  Guests have a range...

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11 Apr 2017
Bandarawela Hotel – Accommodation With Muslim-friendly Facilities In Bandarawela

Bandarawela Hotel is a colonial-style 3-star hotel located in the middle of the city of Bandarawela in Sri Lanka. The hotel has been awarded a Crescent Rating of 3 based on the Halal facilities that are available for Muslim guests. The hotel is...

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06 Apr 2017
Hotel Perdana Kota Bharu – Accommodation with Halal Facilities for Muslim Travelers

Hotel Perdana Kota Bharu is a 5-star luxury hotel with a Muslim-friendly Crescent Rating of 6 in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. The hotel received its JAKIM certification in 2016 and is also the first Five Star Shariah Compliant Hotel in Kelantan. P...

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02 Apr 2017
Grand BlueWave Hotel Shah Alam – Halal-Friendly Facilites for Muslim Travelers at a Luxury Hotel

Grand BlueWave Hotel Shah Alam is a luxury 5-star hotel located in Shah Alam, Malaysia and has been awarded the highest possible hotel rating by CrescentRating – a rating of 7 – based on its excellent Muslim-friendly services. Muslim guests ...

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09 Jan 2017
Explore the Role of Halal in Culture, Economy and Trade at Halal Expo Australia 2017

This year’s Halal Expo Australia 2017 will be commencing from 11th to 12th February 2017 at Rosehill Gardens, Paramatta in Sydney. The Halal Expo Australia 2017 is where global services, affiliated bodies, academics and professionals come toge...

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07 Dec 2016
Developing Halal Tourism in Sri Lanka: Critical Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Halal tourism is blooming around the world and today, traveling is within reach to almost everyone - with cheaper flight rates and hotel offers that encourage tourism. However, many Muslim travelers hesitate to set foot in Sri Lanka, unaware of ...

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20 Nov 2016
Discuss the Impact of Halal Tourism at Halal Expo Japan 2016 – Halal For All

Halal Media Japan will be hosting the Halal Expo Japan 2016 from 22nd to 23rd November 2016 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre Taito-kan in Asakusa. This international event will feature several Halal tourism service providers inc...

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08 Nov 2016
Turkey to Host the First International Halal Tourism Congress to Share Expertise on Global Halal Travel

The very first international Halal Tourism Congress will be held from 7th to 9th April 2017 in Marmaris, Turkey at the Angel’s Marmaris Hotel. The congress will bring together travel experts and academicians who will share their expertise on ...

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07 Nov 2016
Nouvo City Hotel - Halal-Friendly Accommodation for Muslims in Bangkok

Nouvo City Hotel is a Halal-friendly boutique hotel in Thailand located at Bangkok's Khaosan Area – 28km away from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. The buzzing Banglumphu Market is only a 10 minute walk from the hotel and many other attractions are w...

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27 Oct 2016
Muslim Business Travelers Present USD$22 Billion Opportunity for the Tourism Industry, New Research Finds

Muslim business travelers are gaining greater autonomy and increasing their use of technology and digital tools when planning to travel, according to new research released today by Mastercard and CrescentRating. Launched today at the inaugura...

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17 Oct 2016
World’s First-Ever Halal Personal Development Retreat Launched Targeting the Urban Muslim Traveler

The world’s first-ever Halal personal development retreat has been launched combining spirituality with personal development for the fast-growing urban global Muslim traveler. The Productive Muslim Retreat will be a unique personal developm...

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12 Oct 2016
HalalTrip Launches a Series of Halal Culinary Tours with Celebrity Chefs

HalalTrip is partnering with celebrity chefs across various destinations to launch unique Halal culinary tours for food and travel enthusiasts. With Muslim visitors expected to spend approximately USD $28 billion on food alone by 2017, HalalT...

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26 Sep 2016
Marco Polo - Muslim-Friendly Accommodation in the Heart of Manila

Sitting in the heart of Manila, in the center of the business hub is Marco Polo Ortigas Manila. This luxurious 5-star hotel in the Phillipines is ideal for anyone who is on a business venture or for anyone on a holiday. The hotel offers 316 we...

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22 Aug 2016
Inspiring Change at the Innovation 4 Impact Competition 2016

The Innovation 4 Impact Competition 2016 commencing from October 11th to 12th will be a major highlight at the Global Islamic Economy Summit 2016 (GIES 2016) that will be held at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The theme for this year’s competit...

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02 Aug 2016
HalalTrip and Mastercard Commit to Supporting Global Muslim Tourism Growth

Jakarta, 2 August 2016 – To cater to a growing demand for Halal travel, HalalTrip – the online platform for Muslim travelers and a sister brand of CrescentRating, the world’s leading authority on Halal-friendly travel – in partnership wi...

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20 Jun 2016
Dusit Thani Hotel Manila - Muslim-Friendly Hotel in Manila

Sitting in the heart of Makati, Dusit Thani Manila is a luxury five star hotel that is ideal for all types of travelers – business travelers, those seeking a romantic getaway as well as family vacationers. The hotel is located in a very conven...

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16 Jun 2016
GCC in Prime Position to Maximize Muslim Visitor Arrivals During Ramadan from 2023

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states are set to benefit from the growth in Muslim travelers during the holy month of Ramadan, according to new research released today by MasterCard and CrescentRating. The growing trend by Muslims ...

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16 Jun 2016
Future of Ramadan Travel to Impact Many Destinations Across the World

Many destinations will see an impact on visitor arrivals from the growing trend by Muslims to travel during the fasting period, according to new research released today by MasterCard and CrescentRating.  With Ramadan set to occur from June t...

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01 Jun 2016
Mactan Island's Finest Muslim-friendly Resort - Crimson Beach Resort & Spa

Located on beautiful Mactan Island of Cebu, Philippines, Crimson Resort and Spa is a luxury five-star resort that is conveniently located just minutes away from the Mactan International Airport. As the only operator in the region to have a Halal...

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26 May 2016
ITB Asia Partners CrescentRating to Deliver Exclusive “Halal in Travel – Asia Summit 2016” Conference

Singapore, 26th May 2016 – ITB Asia, “Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show”, has established a partnership with CrescentRating, the world’s leading authority on halal travel. As part of the trade show’s first foray into Muslim travel, C...

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20 May 2016
Marriott Manila Hotel - Luxury for Muslims in Manila, Philippines

The luxurious 5-star Marriott Manila Hotel is one of the best Muslim-friendly hotel options for Muslim travelers in the Philippines and is located in the heart of the country's capital city – across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Termina...

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27 Apr 2016
Marriott Hotel leads the way to boost the Halal tourism economy in the Philippines

The Manila Marriott has become the first premium hotel chain to be rated for its Halal friendly services to help accelerate the vision of Philippines to become one of the world’s preferred destinations for Muslim tourists. The five star Man...

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26 Apr 2016
GMTI 2016 Criteria Overview

Global Muslim Travel Index 2016 featured a total of 11 criteria that were used to determine the level of Muslim-friendliness destinations around the world. Listed below is an outline of the criteria used by the index.   Family-Friendly De...

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11 Apr 2016
A Comparison of 2015 and 2016 GMTI40

GMTI40 tracks the average score of the Top 20 OIC and Top 20 non-OIC destinations to form a key index to monitor the performance of the Muslim travel segment. The overall Average GMTI Score for Top 20 non-OIC destinations has improved to 50.3 in...

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08 Apr 2016
Comparison of OIC Destinations vs Non-OIC Destinations on GMTI 2016

At a macro level, the Muslim population can be segmented by those in Muslim-majority countries and those living as sizeable minorities. Whilst the Muslim tourism market is sizeable and an attractive growth market, it is geographically distribute...

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04 Apr 2016
CEO of CrescentRating Fazal Bahardeen Speaks at the Launch of GMTI 2016

Watch the speech delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of CrescentRating and HalalTrip - Fazal Bahardeen - at the launch of the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2016. The launch took place at the Pullman Hotel Jakarta o...

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02 Apr 2016
Catch all the highlights of the Global Muslim Travel Index 2016 launch in Jakarta

The MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2016, which covers 130 destinations, was launched at a Media event in Jakarta, Indonesia. The launch took place at the Pullman Hotel Jakarta on the 23rd March 2016, with Pak Arief Y...

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01 Apr 2016
Halal Tourism Conference 2016 to Take Place in Turkey

Turkey is set to host the second international Halal Tourism Conference from the 3rd to the 5th of May 2016, following the huge success of the first conference in 2014. The three-day event will take place in Konya - at the Mevlana Cultural Cente...

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01 Apr 2016
Fairmont Hotel Singapore – Muslim-Friendly Hotel close to Changi Airport

Located in the heart of Singapore's business and shopping district, Fairmont Hotel Singapore is an excellent Muslim-friendly hotel that is a good option for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel has has been awarded a Crescent Rating of...

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31 Mar 2016
See Photos from the Global Muslim Travel Index 2015 launch

MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015 report was launched in March 2015. The launch event took place in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Here are some of the photos from the launch event. 

 

Matthew Driver Speaking at the GMTI 2015 launch

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30 Mar 2016
Watch CrescentRating's Exclusive Interview with Fairmont Singapore on Halal-Friendly Services

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating, had a chat with Burhan Culculoglu - the Director of Food & Beverages of Fairmont Singapore Hotel about how the hotel is serving the growing segment of Muslim travelers. Fairmont Singapore was one of the...

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29 Mar 2016
Zakiya Habib - Halal Travel Consultant and Specialist

Travel has evolved and so has the Muslim traveler. In the past Muslim travelers faced great difficulty traveling around the world and maintaining their Islamic requirements at the same time. Often Muslim travelers were offered inferior accommoda...

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29 Mar 2016
How has GMTI changed travel for Muslim travelers and tourism organisations?

Listen to Muslim travelers and tourism organizations voice how their travel experiences have changed and how the Global Muslim Travel Index has changed travel. In this video, CrescentRating talks to Dalillah Ismail - a fashion blogger and frequ...

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23 Mar 2016
Malaysia and Singapore Retain Top Spots in the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2016

Singapore, 23 March 2016 - Malaysia and Singapore have retained their positions as the top destinations in the global Muslim travel market, according to the most comprehensive research released on this the sector. The MasterCard-CrescentRatin...

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20 Mar 2016
Defining what is Halal Tourism or Halal Travel | An introduction

With the growth of the Halal travel market, varying terminology and definitions have been used to refer to either the total Halal travel market or its sub-segments. Terms such as Halal Tourism, Muslim Friendly Travel, and Halal travel has bee...

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17 Feb 2016
Philippines accelerates plans to develop Halal tourism

The Philippines is accelerating its plans to position itself as one of the world’s preferred destinations for Muslim tourists. The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) has unveiled a series of initiatives as part of a major drive to crea...

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13 Jan 2016
HalalTrip unveils Muslim-friendly tour packages to 65 destinations

Online Muslim travel platform, HalalTrip, has today unveiled the industry’s most comprehensive tour packages to over 65 global destinations. HalalTrip has created a bespoke portfolio of Muslim friendly tour packages that includes excursions a...

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03 Mar 2015
One year ago - A throwback to GMTI 2014

The best destinations for Muslim travellers for 2015 will be revealed by  MasterCard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index in just a few hours! Last year, the rankings of the top Muslim-friendly destinations were released on the 18th o...

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26 Feb 2015
The History of GMTI

CrescentRating has been releasing annual rankings of Muslim-friendly holiday destinations over the past four years. These rankings have now been enhanced to become a global index - the MasterCard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index - whi...

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01 Jul 2014
Travel habits and patterns of Muslim travelers

Diverse Market Muslim tourists around the world represent a fast-growing niche market comprising of an affluent young demographic with unique needs. Many of these Muslim majority markets are fast emerging economies with high population growt...

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