Against the backdrop of a new set of criteria Malaysia topped the 2015 Index with a score of 83.8. It was followed by Turkey at 73.8 and UAE at 72.1. It is the fifth year in a row that Malaysia has ranked number one having topped the previous rankings produced by CrescentRating since 2011.
Although OIC destinations have a distinct advantage due to having Muslim friendly facilities and services by default, there is a still a requirement to create a clear and coherent strategy across every level to fully maximise their attractiveness to Muslim tourists. It is a commitment that Malaysia, and to an extent Turkey, has embraced wholeheartedly over the last decade. In 2014 Malaysia and Turkey attracted 13% of total Muslim travelers. Other destinations in the top 10 also have the potential to target this segment to increase their visitor arrivals.
Non-OIC destinations have been much more proactive in looking at this segment and are developing services and capabilities specifically to attract this audience. Commendable mentions must be given to Asian destinations such as Japan and Taiwan who have fully embraced this growing sector by dedicating resources and influencing tourism policy.
Given that many of these destinations already have excellent tourism products and infrastructure, for some it will only require small adaptations and adjustments to fully cater for the needs of Muslims. Singapore comes out on top for the non-OIC destinations. Over the last few years it has invested in attracting this sector by adapting its offering to the Muslim tourist. It currently boasts some of the best Halal food environments in non-OIC destinations, even when compared against OIC destinations. In addition, it has invested and embraced processes that provide greater transparency to the sector. An example is the well established and dedicated Halal certification body.
From a regional perspective, Asian destinations lead with an average GMTI score of 53.98.
The top 10 OIC destinations in the GMTI 2015 are:
| RANK | GMTI 2015 RANK | DESTINATION | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Malaysia | 83.8 |
| 2 | 2 | Turkey | 73.8 |
| 3 | 3 | United Arab Emirates | 72.1 |
| 4 | 4 | Saudi Arabia | 71.3 |
| 5 | 5 | Qatar | 68.2 |
| 6 | 6 | Indonesia | 67.5 |
| 7 | 7 | Oman | 66.7 |
| 8 | 8 | Jordan | 66.4 |
| 9 | 10 | Morocco | 64.4 |
| 10 | 11 | Brunei | 64.3 |
The top 10 non-OIC destinations in the GMTI 2015 are:
| RANK | GMTI 2015 RANK | DESTINATION | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Singapore | 65.1 |
| 2 | 20 | Thailand | 59.2 |
| 3 | 25 | United Kingdom | 55.0 |
| 4 | 30 | South Africa | 51.1 |
| 5 | 31 | France | 48.2 |
| 6 | 32 | Belgium | 47.5 |
| 7 | 33 | Hong Kong | 47.5 |
| 8 | 34 | USA | 47.3 |
| 9 | 35 | Spain | 46.5 |
| 10 | 36 | Taiwan | 46.2 |
To access the complete Global Muslim Travel Index 2015, please visit: http://gmti.crescentrating.com/mastercard-crescentrating-global-muslim-travel-index-2015-gmti2015.html
