AS entirely Halal-certified tourism
destinations in Mindanao may not be immediately possible, the Department of Tourism
(DOT) is currently looking into improving and putting up more Muslim-friendly
destinations.
“We
now target destinations first that are friendly for Muslims tourists. It is
“Muslim-friendly” because we cannot strictly follow Halal per se because when we
call a destination Halal, everything about it should really be Halal from the
financing, services, to food ? everything should be Halal,” said Tourism
assistant secretary Eden David during the weekly press conference at Habi at
Kape, Abreeza Ayala Malls last Wednesday, February 7.
She added to make sure
that the tourism establishment is Muslim-friendly, they make sure to comply
with the basic requirements such as providing Qur’an in the prayer room
facilities among others. For resorts and pools, the consideration of the Muslim
customers’ wearing of burkini must also be put in place, not just the wearing
of bikini for the non-Muslim women. Aside from that, an exclusive “ladies’
time” for swimming must also be implemented as well.
“All of the value chain,
when it comes to Muslim-friendly tourist destinations, should be in place ?
from the point that they arrive at the airport, all of these necessary things
are in place. Once they arrived, there should be signages, there should be a
prayer room in the airport. There should even be a Halal restaurant in the
airport,” David said.
She also said that
restaurants and other food establishments found in airports and tourism
destinations must already be Halal-certified and not Muslim-friendly as it is
already food intake and must be very strict with the Halal implementation.
Currently, the country has 5 private Halal
certifiers. While the final Halal standard is being finalized under the
Department of Trade and Industry, these certifiers’ business permits had been
extended to two years. In earlier interview with Tourism Congress Philippines
(TCP) Halal Committee chairperson Marilou Ampuan, these certifiers include
Islamic Dawah Council of the Philippines, Halal Development Institute of the
Philippines, Mindanao Halal Authority, Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification
Board, and the Halal International Chamber of Commerce.
“Our goal here is to ensure that our Muslim
brothers will have an area that we are confident enough to say that this is
Muslim-friendly, that they’ll be able to eat the food that is being served to
them without worrying if it’s Halal or not, and always have an area where they
can pray and observe their religion. It’s really about ensuring our tourists
that what we have here is friendly to them,” David added.
By Jennie P. Arado
link-> www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2018/02/08/more-muslim-friendly-destinations-eyed-588013