By Manuel T. Cayon / Mindanao Bureau Chief
DAVAO CITY—The Philippines has aspired to be listed in the travel index among Muslim travelers to capture a
sizable slice of the rich multitrillion-dollar halal market, a Muslim business leader here said.
Those listed in the Global Muslim Travel Index, the world’s leading authority in preferred travel destinations among Muslim tourists, are accorded the “CrescentRating,” an approval mark for a country or place of destination.
The index includes valuations of the halal-certified establishments and accommodations, as well as a conducive environment for Muslim travelers.
Marilou Ampuan, a member of the board of trustees of the Philippine Tourism Congress and the chairman of the halal promotion project here, said being cited in the index would be a crucial achievement for the country. But being specifically mentioned as a preferred destination in the Philippines would mean a better position for this city, she added.
Ampuan said the country may aspire to take a slice of the $3.2-trillion global halal market from its Asian neighbors with sizable Muslim population.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has set a target of 50 establishments spread in Luzon (20), Boracay (10), rest of the Visayas (10) and Davao City (10) to be certified soon as halal establishments.
The problem is that its halal certification remains a long shot from being recognized globally, she said, citing problems with assurance of a certified halal practice “from farm to plate.” “There are halal-certified producers of livestock, food and non-food items, but there are more producers that are not halal-certified,” she told a business forum at the SM City mall here.
Aside from the problem with clear sources of raw items for food, certifying bodies in the Philippines also encounter problems with contamination of food with pork and other haram, or prohibited Islamic preparations.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos already granted authority to three organizations to be the recognized and accredited halal-certifying body, respectively, for Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. For Mindanao, the office is in Cotabato City.
Ampuan said the Mindanao certifying body has already granted certifications to several business establishments in and around Cotabato City. The DOT here has so far promoted this city as “halal-friendly.” “But there are already some which are ready to be certified here,” she said.
To gain more adherence and following to halal-certification, Ampuan has formed the Davao City Halal Development Council to promote its adoption by accommodation and food establishments, even among fashion and other business ventures.
The council has gathered local and national government agencies to spur wider adoption of the halal practices to help bring in the Muslim tourists here.
“Aside from food and accommodation, we hope that these agencies would be conscious that they should also check on the cosmetics, for example, that they should not contain anything coming from pork,” she added.
The council is chaired by the Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce, a recognized Philippine entity in the Islamic world.