T

he people of Bali must be wary and never permit the entrapment of sharia tourism. Once sharia tourism gets a toe-hold, then the genie is out of the bottle.

Next, they will demand sharia compliant hotels, beaches that are sensitive to sharia tourists, a sharia-compliant dress code, curtailment of non-sharia entertainment outlets, such as clubs, pubs and bars, closure of businesses on Friday and the list of demands will grow.

For sharia tourism, Aceh is the perfect region. It has sharia compliant hotels, sharia compliant food, Sharia compliant beaches, entertainment outlets and a real sharia environment for the sharia -seeking tourist.

So it is strange that sharia tourists still give Aceh a miss. Is it because non-sharia tourists like Bali and this allows tourists from sharia countries to enjoy a real moment of pleasure as compared to their morose daily lifestyles.

Indonesia Watch
Jakarta

Indonesian sharia tourism has a huge potential that could be developed. This will attract a lot of interest in the world, and is not limited to Muslims.

Such an interest in sharia tourism should be responded to with the development of sharia tourism businesses in Indonesia, so as to contribute to the national economy.

Globally Sharia tourism today is increasing, with countries such as Turkey and Malaysia greatly developing their Sharia-compliant facilities.

In Indonesia, according to the Tourism Ministry, there are 12 provinces that are ready to serve as sharia tourist destinations: Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), Aceh, West Sumatra, Riau, Lampung, Banten, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java and South Sulawesi.

Sharia tourism does not only include religious tourist attractions or sites of pilgrimage alone, but can be defined more widely as any place that implements standards and services that are halal, such as the provision of halal food a place of worship and the absence of alcoholic beverages.

Banda Aceh, known as the city of the porch of Mecca, should be developed into a sharia tourist destination to rival Bali. Indonesia has many world-known areas aside from Bali.

A lack of promotion has choked the development of sharia tourism.

Sharia tourism promotes halal products that are safe for consumption by Muslim tourists.

However, that does not mean non-Muslim tourists cannot enjoy a sharia tour.

For Muslim tourists, a sharia tour is part of the dakwah. For non-Muslims, a sharia tour with halal products is a guarantee the food will be healthy.

Because, in principle, the implementation of sharia in products and services means getting rid of things that are harmful to humans and the environment.

But I agree, Bali is not suitable to be a sharia tourist destination because such an industry does not fit in with the essence of the area.  

Mustika Diyah Saputri
Jakarta