While researching Halal tourism, we contacted local travel agencies through online meeting platform Zoom, Skype, Google Meet. We were able to reach travel agencies in the following countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, India, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia. During these meetings we identified the needs and expectations of Muslim travelers.
Travel agents tell us that a group of Muslim travelers would like to travel in Scandinavia on a budget. During the trip, they want to see as many cities and places as possible. They will also need time each day to pray at the mosque or at prayer facilities. In the larger cities, Muslim tourists want to have free time for shopping.
Based on the travel agents' comments and feedback, we have identified the important parts for all Muslim travelers:
Another group of travelers, notably from Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia, would prefer the luxury holiday trip, meaning:
Muslim tourists are expected to reach 156 million by 2020, and their total spending could reach $220 billion. This data aligns with the 2019 Global Muslim Tourism Index (GTMI) compiled by analysts at Mastercard and Crescent Rating. Unfortunately, the global situation with the spread of Covid-19 has significantly affected the data presented above. However, after the recovery of the epidemiological situation around the world, it is very likely that these numbers will reappear. This indexing is carried out every year and shows an increase in the number of travelers and a stable development of the halal tourism industry. Muslim tourists specifically look for holiday destinations that meet their needs in terms of food, clothing and tradition.
There are approximately 1 billion Muslims in the world under the age of 30, making up 60% of the population of most Muslim countries. The younger generation of Muslims has been identified as a key factor in the growth of the Muslim tourism market. By 2030, Muslims are expected to make up 29% of the world's population aged 18-36.
According to Crescent Rating, most young Muslims are active tourists. They travel two to five times a year and spend four to six days on the trip. In addition to travel and vacations, Muslims travel to explore local culture and traditions and to see friends or family.
According to the Muslim Travel Index Europe, Muslims are most likely to travel to France. In second place are Italy and England. Germany and Turkey share the third, but not least honorable place.
The main requirements influencing the consumption behavior of Muslim tourists are:
Halal food is the main service requirement that the Muslim traveler seeks in the destination country. However, there are different levels of acceptance of halal food among Muslim travelers. Some travelers may be strict in their preferences and will only request the service from the certified halal restaurant that only sells soft drinks. Other travelers may be flexible and request halal, seafood or vegetarian options. The most important thing is that the restaurant does not serve pork.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of the Islamic religion. When traveling, Muslims pray three times a day. Therefore, it is important to provide travelers with prayer rooms with the market qibla direction and friendly washrooms equipped with ablutions (wudhu). It is advisable to take the Muslim travelers to the mosque for prayer at least once a day, but if this is not possible, the hotel rooms should have free space for prayer.
Water plays an important role in Islamic culture as it represents cleanliness. Toilets are required to have handheld showerheads or bidets.
Due to religious beliefs, Muslims avoid consuming alcoholic beverages. Therefore, it is good to remove the alcoholic beverages from hotel minibars.
Like any traveler, Muslims want to travel to countries where they feel friendly and safe. Therefore, they avoid traveling to countries with Islamophobic sentiments.
According to Crescent Rating research, Millennials (24-37 years old) are the busiest traveling generation among the Muslim population. They travel 2-6 times a year and plan their trips 1-6 months in advance, with an average travel time of 5-6 days. Average spend per trip is $500-$2000. Mainly your leisure trips where you can discover local culture, traditions and sights and try authentic activities.
Based on our analysis, we can conclude that Scandinavian capitals are capable of welcoming Muslim tourists. There Muslim visitors can find mosques for prayer, halal and vegetarian food in restaurants, also some hotels can offer halal food. Toilets across Scandinavia are water friendly so the Muslim travelers will not feel uncomfortable. Hotel chains like Scandic Hotels and Choice Hotels offer spacious accommodation in all Scandinavian capitals. Sokos Hotels offer accommodation in Finland and Estonia, Thon Hotels have their hotels in Norway. All of the above hotel chains have long-term contracts with Carisa Travel Group.
Scandinavian countries are interesting for Muslim travelers because of the authentic nature, cultural and historical sights, ecological tourism, hunting, fishing, skiing, amusement parks, vacations in cottages on the shores of lakes and rivers, adventure tours and safaris, cruises on comfortable ships , shopping from incredible Scandinavian design pieces.
We have designed special itineraries for our prospective Muslim travelers. These itineraries cater to the needs of all types of travelers. The itineraries differ in terms of activity saturation, price, tour length, number of historical and modern sights, accommodation type, transportation, and food preferences. However, there is the important similarity between all these tour programs that they are all Muslim friendly. Each itinerary is designed so that the travelers visit the mosque, eat halal-friendly meals during the tour, and provide prayer rugs for the guests.
Finland is known around the world as the "Land of a Thousand Lakes". The country attracts foreign tourists with its beautiful northern nature, ski resorts, Nordic cuisine, ice hotels, year-round fishing, mini cruises in a Baltic Sea and New Year with Santa Claus. The majority of foreign tourists start exploring Finland from the capital region. Here tourists entertain themselves with the impressive local architecture, Suomenlinna, the Rock Church, tax-free shopping and local cuisine. All tourists love Lapland with its capital Rovaniemi, where you can imagine yourself in a winter fairy tale in Santa Claus Village. You can try the winter activities like reindeer sleigh ride, husky safari, snowmobile ride, ice fishing, visit to snow hotel and cultural program in Arctium Museum.
According to statistics, the Muslim population of Finland is 0.15 million people, which is 2.7% of the country's total population. Helsinki is the country's most Muslim-friendly city. The city is home to a significant number of halal restaurants and some places of worship. There are also places of worship in the cities of Vaasa, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Kajaani and Oulu. However, many of them house the capital region, over 14 prayer facilities:
There are a large number of restaurants where Muslim tourists can find halal, vegetarian and seafood restaurants across the country.
Tour program in Helsinki
Most tours start with the panoramic tour of the city center where you will get general information about the country, history, traditions and culture. Our guests have the opportunity to visit attractions such as Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski Cathedral, Market Square, Old Market Hall, Rock Church, Finlandia Hall, Oodi Central Library, Suomenlinna, etc. On request, our guests can also enjoy the mini cruises around the islands, hiking in Nuuksio National Park, fishing on the Baltic Sea, etc. You will also have time to observe the beauties of the city on your own, in the Forum, Stockmann, Kamppi or Shopping Malls shopping in the shops at Aleksanterinkatu and Pohjoisesplanadi.
Tour program in Lapland
Finnish Lapland is famous for Santa Claus Village, where all tourists can meet Santa Claus. Travelers enjoy the husky safaris, visits to reindeer farms, snowmobiling on the frozen lakes and through the forest, skiing and the Aurora Borealis hunting safaris. As well as the classic Finnish active sauna. The most important thing for Muslim travelers is privacy, so women and men can enjoy the sauna separately in addition to the above activities. You will have the opportunity to visit Arktikum Science Museum and Ranua Zoo.
Sweden is attractive to tourists at any time of the year. In winter you can ski, visit Swedish Lapland and enjoy winter sports and activities. From spring to autumn there are various festivals in Sweden almost every month, such as the Salmon Festival or the Midsummer Festival. Tours to Sweden have become very popular among Muslim travelers due to the beautiful landscapes, historical sights and Vikings. Sweden hosts over 20 places of worship for Muslims. Most of them are located in the capital, in Stockholm. According to statistics, the Muslim population of Sweden is 0.8 million people, which is 8.1% of the country's total population.
Worship places in Stockholm for Muslims:
Tour program in Stockholm
During the panoramic city tour, our travelers will enjoy historical sights and the vibrant city center of Stockholm and learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of Swedish citizens. Then they continue the tour to the Royal Palace which is the official residence and main palace of the Swedish monarch and see the oldest church in Stockholm, the Coronation Church, which is located in the center of Gamla Stan. Another stop is next to Stockholm City Hall with its halls and gardens, you will also have an inspiring view of the island of Södermalm and the Vasa Ship Museum. At the end of the tour, enjoy a walk in the charming Old Town (Gamla Stan) with 13th-century architectural buildings. Guests also have free time to explore the city and shop on their own. During the sightseeing tour, travelers will visit one of the local mosques to pray. In order to get acquainted with the Viking culture of Sweden, our guests are taken to Sigtuna and Uppsala, the oldest cities in the country.
Norway is attractive to foreign tourists with beautiful landscapes, fjords, northern lights and amazing Nordic cuisine. The majority of tourists love long trips around the country where they can see the beauties of nature, small villages and architecture in the larger cities. Another famous attraction in Norway is the Flamsbana science train, which starts its route in Flam. In Flam you can also enjoy the mini cruises in the fjords. The northern Norwegian cities also attract people with whale watching and northern lights cruises. Most of the sights are in the capital, Oslo. According to statistics, Norway's Muslim population is 0.14 million people, which is 5.7% of the country's total population. Oslo is also a location for over 10 mosques spread across the city:
Bergen and Tromso are home to a total of four mosques:
Tour program in Oslo
The tour starts with a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city of Oslo with photo stops at the most attractive spots. Then visit the Viking Ship Museum, where the best preserved Viking warships are on display. Then continue to Akershus Fortress, the Royal Palace, City Hall and the monumental Opera House. You will enjoy free time along the busy Karl Johan Street, where you can shop or relax in the cozy cafe. After that, they will go to one of Oslo's nearest mosques to pray. Then guests have the opportunity to discover the Olympiaschanze near the city center at the Holmenkollen ski jump.
Tour program in Bergen
In Bergen, our travelers enjoy the view of the city from Mount Fløyen. You also have the option to take a mini cruise to see the city's fjords and landscapes from the sea. You can also take the train from Bergen to Flam to see Norway in a nutshell.
Among the international travelers, Denmark is famous for the well-being of its citizens, castles, the art of hygge, fine dining. Annually, Copenhagen attracts over 8 million tourists. The capital is famous for the Nyhavn Canal with the colorful buildings on the sides, with the amazing Danish architecture and the Tivoli Gardens.
According to statistics, the Muslim population of Denmark is 0.31 million people, which is 5.4% of the country's total population. Copenhagen is home to 15 prayer facilities spread across the city:
Tour program in Denmark
Upon arrival in Copenhagen, travelers begin the panoramic city tour that takes them to the heart of the Danish capital with its historic buildings and old streets. Sights include the Little Mermaid and the Gefion Fountain, the royal residence Amalienborg Palace and the Nyhavn Canal with its charming outdoor restaurants and cafes, Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Royal Opera House. Next, they are invited to visit Rosenborg Castle, a Renaissance-style palace originally built in 1606 as a rural summer home. The tour ends in Strøget, which is famous for its cozy cafes, restaurants and shops. During the sightseeing tour, Muslim travelers have time to visit one of the local mosques to pray.
Travelers from all over the world come to Iceland every year to see the breathtaking landscapes, volcanoes, geysers, waterfalls, ice lagoons, black sand beaches and national parks that you cannot see in other countries. Besides these, Iceland offers tourists cultural and historical tours, the Museum of History, the Whale Museum, the Harpa Concert Hall and the Lutheran Church in Reykjavik. The Blue Lagoon with its geothermal springs, the famous Golden Circle Tour around Iceland and Thingvellir National Park make Iceland a popular and unique travel destination among foreign travellers.
According to statistics, the Muslim population of Iceland is 0.34 million people, which is 0.2% of the country's total population. The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, is home to three mosques:
Tour program in/from Reykjavik
Upon arrival, our guests have the opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of Iceland, visit the National Museum of Iceland and the Reykjavik Whale Museum. Stroll down the city's cozy shopping street, Laugavegur. See the 73-meter high Lutheran Church with futuristic architecture.
Iconic Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik where travelers experience the spectacular Geysir area, Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir National Park and the active Strokkur hot springs.
You have the opportunity to explore the landscapes of southern Iceland on a full-day tour from Reykjavik. During the journey south, guests will be amazed by the breathtaking waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the black sand beaches and enjoy the beautiful sea views, see the glacier of Mýrdalsjökull and visit the town of Vik to see the basalt columns.
On the whale watching boat tour, our travelers have the opportunity to see minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises - and even humpback whales. You also have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights on the boat trip or bus tour north.