Trade show estimates 156 million Muslim travelers by 2020

Bilqees Baker, guide and activist, talks about the history of the district of Bo-Kaap (Upper Cape) on July 25, 2018 in the city centre of Cape Town. / AFP FILE PHOTO

JAKARTA — Regional travel trade show ITB Asia has said that about 156 million Muslims would be traveling around the globe by 2020, a growth of nearly 30 percent since 2016, and that the estimated total purchases by Muslim travelers would more than double over a decade to US$300 billion by 2026.

“Muslim travel is thus an important focus for ITB Asia this year, as key players in the travel and tourism scene are demanding insights and best practices in marketing destinations and how to better connect with Muslim travelers,” ITB Asia stated in a press release The Jakarta Post received on Monday.

ITB Asia also said it would launch a Muslim Travel Hub and Pavilion from Oct. 17 to 19 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

Over the three days, the “halal travel” event will host panel discussions and showcases for industry players.

Key topics include how to attract Muslim travelers to destinations throughout the year, how to develop the growing Muslim travel market and Muslim-friendly travel packages. The event’s Muslim Travel Pavilion would be dedicated to exhibitors offering Muslim travel products and services, the release said.

The Muslim Travel Hub is to showcase presentations from Indonesia, Japan and Turkey on “Targeting US$126 billion Muslim tourism market with cultural changes”, “Making Muslims feel at home” and “Traveling in style”, respectively.