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Indonesia eyes top position on 2019 Muslim travel index
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Tourism Minister Arief Yahya speaks during the announcement of the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2017 in Jakarta on May 3. (JP/yon)
T
ourism Minister Arief Yahya aims to put Indonesia in the leading position on the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) by 2019 from the current third position.
Indonesia has increased its score on the 2017 GMTI by two points to 72.6 from 70.6 in 2016, raising its position to third place.
Indonesia displaced Turkey, while Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have maintained their positions in first and second place, respectively, according to an annual survey by a leading authority on halal tourism, CrescentRating.
(Read also: Indonesia climbs to third position in Muslim travel index)
Even though Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population, Arief suggested that all business players in the food and culinary sector certify their halal products and urged relevant government institutions to simplify halal certification.
“Many business players in the food sector think they don’t need to obtain halal certification. They think Muslim travelers will feel secure,” he added.
Indonesia has 10 halal destinations, such as those in West Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra and Aceh, but they are not-well promoted, said the minister.
“This year we’ll launch two digital applications to attract Muslim travelers,” he said, adding that Indonesia hoped to attract 3.2 million Muslim travelers this year, 20 percent more than last year. (yon/bbn)
