Depok, Indonesia – Indonesia is currently experiencing a sports trend, with many citizens becoming increasingly aware of the importance of health. Many are starting to try various sports, ranging from running, pilates, gym, yoga, and others. Running has become particularly popular among the public, leading many organizations to organize marathons offering prizes in the form of money or other valuable goods to support this new healthy lifestyle.

In several marathon events, foreign participants have joined, requiring organizers to focus on providing the best services not only for local residents but also for foreigners. Here, the hospitality of the organizers represents not just the good name of the institution but also Indonesia as a nation.

Indonesia’s Track Record in International Sports Events

Indonesia has previously hosted several international Olympic events, including the Asian Games, ASEAN Games, Paralympics, and others. In this regard, Indonesia has been entrusted to provide the best service for athletes representing their countries. The diverse backgrounds of athletes, including different habits, cultures, values, and norms, certainly present unique challenges for Indonesia in accommodating their needs during their stay.

Although not all participants are Muslim, as a Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia must pay attention to halal hospitality from certification aspects to implementation in international sports. A significant number of Muslim athletes participate in international Olympic events, making this consideration crucial.

Comprehensive Halal Hospitality Framework

• Core Components of Halal Hospitality

Halal holistic hospitality encompasses food and beverages, accommodation, as well as health and fitness services, all of which are crucial for international sports events to ensure the comfort of Muslim athletes. This approach not only meets religious requirements but also contributes to inclusivity and comfort for global participants.

The emphasis on hospitality’s ability to unite people and strengthen communities aligns with the spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity in international sports events. Promoting halal cultural values in sports organization also serves as Indonesia’s soft power strategy.

• Medical and Fitness Services for Muslim Athletes

International athletes, especially Muslims, require halal medical and fitness services. Examples include alcohol-free medications, prayer isolation rooms, and halal therapy. Organizers need to ensure fitness facilities and health services are free from non-halal elements.

International sports events provide opportunities to showcase Indonesia’s halal hospitality to the world. To realize this, support is needed in infrastructure, training, and multi sector collaboration.

Implementation Requirements and Challenges

Infrastructure and Training Needs

Implementing halal hospitality requires staff training, adaptation of hotel/sports facility infrastructure, and synergy among stakeholders, from BPJPH (Halal Product Assurance Agency), PHRI (Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association), KONI (Indonesian National Olympic Committee), to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

Learning from Qatar’s Experience

Learning from Islamic countries that have hosted international Olympic events, particularly Qatar as the organizer of the World Cup, Formula 1, and Asian Games, several challenges serve as important notes for other countries when hosting international sports events:

• Gender separation facilities
• Alcohol prohibition policies
• Schedule adjustments during Ramadan
• Consideration of Muslim needs (prayer times, clothing, halal food)

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being

Halal tourism provides healthy food and sharia-compliant medical services. Examples include smart Hajj bracelets in Saudi Arabia and KPJ hospitals in Malaysia.

SDG 5 – Gender Equality

Empowering Muslim women through women-managed hotels, women-only gym and spa facilities, and contributions from the modest fashion sector and women-friendly services.

SDG 5 is one of the important points that has become the government’s attention. It is known that Muslim women’s participation in sports is increasing, including in international competitions. Learning from other host countries, many still lack attention to facilities for Muslim female athletes, including insufficient separate sports facilities, limited transportation access, then clothing and privacy concerns.

However, some countries have become aware of this issue. They provide burkinis as a solution for modest swimwear. Additionally, with the increasing interest in halal fashion, several international brands have also provided support by releasing muslimah-friendly products. Notable examples include Nike and Speedo, which have developed sports hijabs and muslimah-friendly outfits.

SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

Halal tourism supports responsible consumption and production through clean, hygienic, environmentally conscious food, and supply chains from upstream to downstream according to halal standards.

Indonesia’s Strategic Position and Future Outlook

• Becoming a Halal Sports Tourism Hub

Indonesia’s transformation in halal hospitality for the international sports sector reflects the country’s real commitment to comprehensively addressing the needs of Muslim tourists and athletes. From strengthening halal certification systems to implementing accommodation services, consumption, and medical and fitness facilities that comply with sharia, Indonesia demonstrates readiness to become an inclusive and culturally sensitive host.

• Integration of Halalan Thayyiban Values

By integrating halalan thayyiban values into international sports service standards, Indonesia not only strengthens its position in the global halal tourism industry but also opens opportunities to become a halal sports tourism hub in Asia. Commitment to global standards, multi sector collaboration, and innovation in hospitality services become important foundations in realizing this vision.

Conclusion

Indonesia’s halal hospitality revolution in international sports tourism represents a paradigm shift toward inclusive, culturally sensitive event management. Through comprehensive certification systems, specialized facilities for Muslim athletes, and innovative approaches to gender-inclusive sports environments, Indonesia is positioning itself as a leader in halal sports tourism.

This transformation not only serves the growing Muslim sports tourism market but also contributes to broader sustainable development goals, promoting health, gender equality, and responsible consumption. As Indonesia continues to host major international sporting events, its commitment to halal hospitality standards will undoubtedly enhance its reputation as a premier destination for inclusive, world-class sports tourism experiences.

References

Azam, M. S. E., Abdullah, M. A., & Abdul Razak, D. (2019). Halal tourism: Definition, justification, and scopes towards sustainable development. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 18(3), 23–31.

Mahadi, N. M., Roselan, N., Yaacob, M. R., Ali, N. M., & Ismail, M. A. (2024). Halal holistic hospitality: Strengthening communities through food and beverage, accommodation and medical and wellness initiatives. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 8(5), 1433–1442.

Malchrowicz-Mosko, E. (2021). “Can she run or scream while travelling?” Is sports tourism halal or haram? Management of sports travel of Muslim women in the era of West-East dichotomy. European Research Studies Journal, 24(1), 421–443.

Suban, S. A., Madhan, K., & Shagirbasha, S. (2023). A bibliometric analysis of halal and Islamic tourism. International Hospitality Review, 37(2), 219–242.