TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism business owners positively welcomed the halal tourism program pitched by Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. PT Jakarta Tourisindo (Jaktour) CEO Geraard Jeffrey Zacharias Rantung said that Sandiaga’s halal tourism initiative is in line with his company’s visions and missions.

“We will provide halal tourism and halal destination services in Jakarta. It will be related to sharia hotels. We will also operate sharia hotels,” Jeffrey said at the City Hall on Thursday, November 2.

He revealed that sharia hotel is not a foreign concept in Jakarta. Among sharia hotels in the capital is Sofyan Hotel Betawi that is located at Cikini, Central Jakarta. Jeffrey believes that Jakhotel will be able to support the development of city-owned sharia hotels.

Read: Sandiaga Uno Invites Hotel Alexis Employees to OKE-OCE Program

Jeffrey explained that sharia hotels introduce Islamic nuance in terms of design, room position, and dining room. In addition, the management and rules applied to the hotel will be based on the sharia law. “For instance, guests will be required to show their marriage certificate. It will apply to a married couple.”

He said that he has not found the perfect location for the sharia hotel pilot project. According to Jeffrey, the location must be approved by the Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno is planning to partner with the Haria Economic Community to develop sharia-based tourism businesses and hotels. Sandiaga said he would directly invite conventional hotels to join the program.

“We will visit them and encourage them to transform their business activities to support the tourism sector in general,” Sandiaga said.

LARISSA HUDA