Source: Halal Times

JAKARTA – The Asian tourism landscape is experiencing a paradigm shift with the introduction of an innovative strategic model designed specifically for Muslim travelers. At the prestigious Halal in Travel Global Summit 2025, held in Singapore from May 27-29, industry leaders unveiled a comprehensive framework that promises to reshape how destinations across Asia approach halal tourism development.

This revolutionary approach, known as the RIDA Framework, emerges at a crucial moment when the global Muslim travel sector is experiencing unprecedented growth. Industry projections indicate that by 2028, Muslim travelers will account for 230 million international arrivals, generating approximately $225 billion in tourism expenditure worldwide.

Decoding the RIDA Methodology

The RIDA Framework represents a sophisticated approach to Muslim-friendly tourism development, created by CrescentRating’s leadership team. This comprehensive model draws its name from the Arabic concept of “Rida,” symbolizing contentment and fulfillment—core objectives for any successful travel experience.

The framework operates through four interconnected pillars that address the multifaceted needs of modern Muslim travelers:

Responsible Practices: This foundation emphasizes sustainable tourism development that honors environmental stewardship while respecting Islamic principles of social responsibility and community welfare.

Immersive Cultural Connections: Focusing on authentic experiences that allow travelers to engage meaningfully with local heritage, from exploring historic Islamic architecture to participating in community-based cultural activities.

Digital Integration: Harnessing cutting-edge technology to create seamless travel experiences, including AI-powered travel assistants, mobile applications for halal services, and digital platforms that simplify trip planning.

Assured Quality Standards: Establishing reliable certification systems and consistent service delivery that builds traveler confidence through transparent halal compliance and faith-appropriate amenities.

Additionally, the framework incorporates elements of cultural heritage preservation and economic development, ensuring that tourism growth benefits local communities while maintaining authentic cultural expressions.

Asia’s Dominant Position in Muslim Travel

The Asian continent has established itself as the epicenter of global halal tourism, with several nations leading international rankings for Muslim-friendly destinations. The latest Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index showcased Asia’s dominance, with Indonesia and Malaysia sharing the top position for Muslim-friendly travel destinations.

This regional success extends beyond traditional Muslim-majority nations. Countries like Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines have successfully positioned themselves as attractive options for Muslim travelers by developing comprehensive halal-friendly infrastructure and services.

Recent statistics reveal remarkable growth momentum, with 80 million international Muslim tourists visiting various destinations in the first half of 2024 alone. Year-end projections suggest this number will reach 168 million, surpassing pre-pandemic travel volumes and demonstrating the sector’s robust recovery.

The demographic driving this expansion consists primarily of young, technologically engaged, and economically empowered Muslim families. With over 70% of the global Muslim population under 40 years old, this market segment possesses significant spending power and seeks travel experiences that align with their values and lifestyle preferences.

Summit Highlights and Industry Collaboration

The Singapore summit served as a crucial platform for introducing the RIDA Framework to key industry stakeholders. The event, hosted at Village Hotel Katong, brought together tourism authorities, hospitality executives, technology innovators, and government representatives from across Asia and beyond.

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, delivered the framework’s keynote presentation, emphasizing how RIDA principles can help destinations adapt to changing market demands while maintaining competitive advantages through sustainability and digital innovation.

The summit coincided with the release of the 10th edition of the Global Muslim Travel Index, reinforcing Asia’s leadership position in the sector. Expert panel discussions featured industry thought leaders exploring practical implementation strategies, with particular focus on cultural immersion techniques and digital readiness assessments.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme throughout the event, with industry champions discussing how halal tourism principles can align with global environmental protection goals. Strategic partnerships were announced between major organizations, including the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Mastercard, demonstrating the framework’s broad industry support.

Addressing Contemporary Travel Expectations

The RIDA Framework specifically targets the evolving preferences of modern Muslim travelers, who increasingly demand sophisticated, technology-enabled, and culturally authentic experiences. The digital component addresses practical travel challenges through innovative solutions like mobile applications that locate halal dining options, provide prayer time notifications, and offer Qibla direction services.

Trust-building mechanisms form another crucial aspect of the framework’s approach. Through transparent certification processes and consistent service standards, travelers gain confidence in destination offerings, reducing uncertainty and enhancing overall satisfaction.

The framework also recognizes important demographic shifts within the Muslim travel market, particularly the growing influence of Muslim women as primary travel decision-makers. This trend has prompted destinations to develop gender-sensitive facilities and experiences that cater to family groups with diverse needs and preferences.

Cultural immersion opportunities represent another key focus area, with destinations encouraged to develop programming that connects visitors with local Islamic heritage, traditional crafts, and authentic culinary experiences that tell the story of regional Muslim communities.

Regional Implementation Success Stories

Across Asia, destinations are already implementing RIDA principles to enhance their halal tourism offerings. Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia and Malaysia are leveraging the framework to strengthen existing infrastructure and develop new attractions that showcase their rich Islamic cultural heritage.

Indonesia has particularly focused on promoting its diverse Islamic historical sites and traditional practices, creating compelling narratives that attract both domestic and international Muslim travelers. The country’s approach demonstrates how cultural authenticity can become a significant competitive advantage in the halal tourism market.

Malaysia’s systematic approach to halal certification, implemented since 2009, aligns perfectly with RIDA’s assured quality standards. The country’s comprehensive halal ecosystem encompasses accommodation, dining, and entertainment options, creating a seamless experience for Muslim visitors.

Non-Muslim majority destinations are also embracing RIDA principles to capture market opportunities. The Philippines has achieved remarkable recognition, receiving the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination award for two consecutive years. The country has systematically expanded its halal-certified establishment network, reaching 289 facilities by December 2023, with ambitious plans to host the Halal Expo Philippines in November 2025.

Thailand has developed a comprehensive halal industry action plan, recognizing the economic potential of Muslim tourism for its economy. The country’s initiatives include opening specialized halal hotels and promoting culinary festivals that celebrate halal gastronomy.

Even traditionally non-Muslim destinations like Japan and South Korea are adapting their offerings, incorporating prayer facilities and halal dining options in major cities to accommodate growing Muslim visitor numbers.

Navigating Implementation Challenges

While the RIDA Framework presents significant opportunities, several challenges must be addressed for successful implementation. High certification costs can create barriers for smaller businesses seeking to enter the halal tourism market, potentially limiting service availability in some destinations.

Inconsistent halal standards across different countries can create confusion for travelers and complicate the booking process. This fragmentation undermines traveler confidence and requires coordinated efforts to establish more unified certification systems.

Cultural sensitivity represents another critical consideration, as destinations must ensure authentic representation of Islamic values and practices without appropriating or misrepresenting cultural elements.

However, these challenges also present innovation opportunities. The framework’s digital emphasis encourages the adoption of blockchain technology for halal compliance verification, reducing fraud risks and increasing transparency throughout the certification process.

Community-based tourism initiatives, supported by the framework’s immersive pillar, enable local economies to benefit directly from tourism development while preserving authentic cultural expressions and traditional practices.

Future Market Projections and Trends

Industry analysts project continued robust growth for the Muslim-friendly tourism sector, with market value expected to reach $410.9 billion by 2032. This expansion will be driven by demographic growth, increasing disposable incomes among Muslim populations, and heightened awareness of halal travel standards and options.

The RIDA Framework’s emphasis on sustainability and digital innovation positions it well to capitalize on broader tourism industry trends. As global travelers increasingly prioritize ethical and environmentally responsible travel options, destinations implementing RIDA principles will likely enjoy competitive advantages.

Integration with measurement tools like the Global Muslim Travel Index and the proposed RIDA Impact Score will enable destinations to track their progress and identify areas for improvement, creating a continuous enhancement cycle that benefits both travelers and local communities.

Specialized events like the upcoming HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards in Johor and Singapore highlight Asia’s commitment to excellence in halal culinary tourism, an increasingly important market segment that showcases regional diversity and cultural richness.

Building Inclusive Tourism Ecosystems

One of the RIDA Framework’s most significant contributions is its potential to create inclusive tourism environments that appeal to diverse traveler segments. By promoting ethical and sustainable travel practices, the framework attracts not only Muslim travelers but also non-Muslim visitors who value responsible tourism approaches.

Shared cultural experiences, such as heritage festivals and environmentally conscious tours, create opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. This inclusive approach strengthens Asia’s reputation as a welcoming destination that celebrates diversity while respecting different cultural values and practices.

Conclusion: Transforming Asia’s Tourism Future

The introduction of the RIDA Framework at the 2025 Halal in Travel Global Summit represents a watershed moment for Asian tourism development. By providing a comprehensive blueprint that addresses responsibility, immersion, digitalization, and assurance, the framework enables destinations to meet sophisticated traveler expectations while promoting sustainable growth and cultural preservation.

As Asia continues to dominate the global halal tourism market, the RIDA Framework will play an increasingly important role in shaping industry standards and practices. Through its emphasis on collaboration, technological innovation, and traveler satisfaction, the framework ensures that halal tourism evolves from a specialized niche into a mainstream travel segment that delivers exceptional experiences for millions of visitors.

The framework’s success will ultimately be measured by its ability to create meaningful connections between travelers and destinations while supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage for future generations. Early implementation efforts across the region suggest that Asia is well-positioned to achieve these ambitious goals, setting new global standards for Muslim-friendly tourism development.

Original article:

halaltimes.com. (n.d.). New RIDA Framework Set to Boost Halal Tourism Across Asia. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.halaltimes.com/new-rida-framework-set-to-boost-halal-tourism-across-asia/