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The global Muslim travel market, once seen as a niche segment, has firmly stepped into the mainstream. Now worth hundreds of billions of dollars, its evolution was front and center at the 5th Halal in Travel Global Summit, where industry leaders called for a new, values-driven direction in how travel success is defined.
The Muslim travel market’s rise has been nothing short of transformative. What began as a specialized interest has now become a global priority for tourism boards, businesses, and policymakers.
Central to this shift has been the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), launched over a decade ago as the first data-driven benchmark for Muslim-friendly destinations. The 2025 summit will mark the unveiling of the 10th edition of the index, celebrating both the progress made and the roadmap ahead.
Even during the global pandemic, the Halal in Travel Summit remained active as a sign of resilience and a continued commitment to understanding the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide.
A key moment in the opening address was the call to redefine success in tourism. In an era marked by climate change, over-tourism, and shifting traveler values, sheer visitor volume is no longer an adequate metric.
Today’s travelers are seeking authenticity, purpose, and ethical alignment. They care where they spend their money, how destinations treat their communities, and whether their faith-based needs are met with care and respect.
As such, the summit introduced a new model: the RIDA Framework.
Designed by CrescentRating, the RIDA Framework is a four-pillar approach to guiding the future of halal travel through value-based principles:
Each dimension responds directly to traveler expectations in the Muslim travel space. Together, they offer a blueprint for a tourism industry that is inclusive, efficient, and socially conscious.
To translate this framework into action, the summit unveiled the RIDA Impact Score, a quantitative tool designed to evaluate how well destinations and businesses are applying the four pillars in real-world settings.
The metric is set to provide stakeholders with actionable insights and performance benchmarks, encouraging a shift from theoretical conversations to measurable progress.
Framed under the Halal Travel 360 theme, this year’s summit spotlights three core drivers shaping the future of Muslim-friendly travel.
Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a game-changer for travel planning, personalization, and backend automation. The summit explores how AI can revolutionize Muslim-friendly services, from halal-certified travel assistants to prayer-time integration in smart apps.
A major highlight of the summit is the launch of the Halal Trip Content Creator Tank, a platform for discovering the next generation of Muslim travel storytellers. Six finalists will pitch their creative proposals directly to destination partners, including Spain and Taiwan, with one creator selected per project. This initiative aims to foster authentic, diverse, and engaging representations of halal travel experiences.
With destinations around the world struggling with over-tourism, the summit underscores the Muslim travel market’s role in contributing to meaningful solutions. Responsible promotion, respectful cultural engagement, and diversified itineraries are key areas of focus.
Day Three of the summit promises several milestone announcements and recognitions:
As the summit opened, a strong message that value-driven travel is not just a trend, but a necessity. The speakers urged participants to take part in shaping the future of tourism by moving away from outdated success metrics and embracing models that prioritize sustainability, cultural understanding, and digital equity.
Attendees were invited to contribute insights, participate in discussions, and amplify the shared mission of evolving tourism from a numbers game into a platform for global connection.
The Halal in Travel Global Summit 2025 is not just a gathering of stakeholders, it’s a turning point. With the foundations laid by a decade of industry research, collaboration, and innovation, the Muslim travel sector is now ready to lead a global shift toward more ethical and enriching tourism.
Held in Singapore and hosted by CrescentRating, the summit’s opening address delivered a bold vision: move beyond arrival numbers and measure impact through innovation, immersive experiences, and responsible growth. Anchored by the theme “Halal Travel 360: Innovation, Experience, and Responsibility,” the event signals a significant shift in the global tourism narrative.
Watch the full panel on YouTube here.
To see more of the Halal In Travel Global Summit 2025 sessions, please visit this page.
