Indonesia to Host 1st Sharia International Forum
30 May 2014 18:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia will host OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) sharia tourism forum on June 2-3 in Jakarta.
The Tourism and Creative Economy deputy minister, Sapta Nirwandar, said Muslim tourism potential has seen a significant increase. "The need for Muslim-friendly tourism will also increase," he said earlier today.
According to Sapta, Thomson Reuters study shows Muslims expenditure on halal food and lifestyle in 2012 reached US$1.62 trillion. "The number will rise to around US$2.47 trillion in 2018," he said.
According to a study by Pew Research Center Forum on Religion and Public Life, Muslim world population will go up 23.4 percent to 2.2 billion or around 26.4 percent from the world population of 8.3 billion in 2030.
This forum is the first in the world as a follow-up to tourism ministers' summit on December 6. "This forum was approved by majority of the members," said Sapta.
The forum will hopefully promote sharia tourism destinations and their products such as hotels, travel packages, restaurants and spas.
JAYADI SUPRIADIN