Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
addClaim

Halal-Friendly Wellness Tourism in Non-Muslim Countries: Perceptions of Muslim Tourists

Authors: Ashton, Ann Suwaree; Islam, Rasmee;

Halal-Friendly Wellness Tourism in Non-Muslim Countries: Perceptions of Muslim Tourists

Abstract

This study explores the perceptions of Muslim tourists regarding wellness-related activities while travelling in non-Muslim countries. Although halal tourism has witnessed significant global expansion, there remains a notable gap in the literature concerning the development of halal-compliant wellness products and services in destinations outside the Muslim world. Employing a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 40 Thai Muslim participants who travelled to non-Muslim countries between 2022 and 2023. The investigation centres on four primary categories of wellness activities: spa, therapy, and massage services; sports, leisure, and adventure experiences; spiritual well-being practices; and the slow food movement. The findings underscore that effective halal-friendly wellness tourism hinges on a three-tiered framework: essential (‘need to have’) features—such as gender segregation, halal-certified products, designated prayer spaces, and alcohol-free environments; desirable (‘good to have’) attributes—including Ramadan-specific services and culturally aware staff; and supplementary (‘nice to have’) elements—such as Islamic-themed aesthetics and dedicated concierge services. This study offers both theoretical and practical contributions by proposing an integrative framework for the development of halal-compliant wellness tourism in non-Muslim contexts. It highlights strategies for service providers to reconcile religious requirements with hospitality standards, thereby responding to the specific needs of Muslim wellness tourists and supporting broader efforts to promote inclusivity within the global wellness tourism industry.

Country
Ireland
Keywords

Tourism and Travel, non-Muslim country, Halal-friendly tourism, wellness development, wellness tourism, faith-based services

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green
Related to Research communities
Upload OA version
Are you the author of this publication? Upload your Open Access version to Zenodo!
It’s fast and easy, just two clicks!