Taiwan is named the most inclusive destination for a non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation country at the inaugural Halal in Travel Awards presented by CrescentRating earlier this month in Singapore, according to the Tourism Bureau.
Taiwan also retained its second-place ranking among non-OIC destinations in Mastercard-CresentRating’s Global Muslim Travel Index 2022, the TB said. The country trailed only Singapore and led the U.K. and Thailand in the annual report that surveyed 138 countries and territories around the world.
According to the survey, Taiwan stands out among non-OIC destinations for its integration of Muslim travel resources and people’s friendliness and respect towards all cultures and religions. The country performed particularly well in the areas of destination marketing, faith restrictions, safety and transportation infrastructure.
During his online acceptance speech on behalf of the country, TB Deputy Director-General Trust Lin said the honors represent global recognition of the government’s commitment to creating a friendly environment for Muslim visitors from around the world.
According to Lin, recent efforts in this regard include ongoing promotion of Halal foods and culture to enhance public awareness and understanding of the Islamic world. These include assisting the hospitality sector in building Muslim-friendly facilities and providing guidance on Halal certification, among other measures.
While global tourism has been put on hold since the onset of COVID-19, Lin said the bureau has continued its marketing campaigns to enhance Taiwan’s global visibility, citing four 10-minute promotional documentaries to be released later this month in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and planning for a Muslim pavilion at the “Taiwan Culinary Exhibition” set to take place in Taipei in August.
The bureau said it has every confidence that Taiwan will be an appealing destination for even more Muslim travelers once international tourism returns to normal levels in the near future. (SFC-E)
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