[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”13558″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Assalamualaikum and Greetings dear friends.
Ramadan Kareem! Let me begin by wishing you a blessed and productive Ramadan ahead.
The atmosphere of the last two Ramadans was challenging but we made it through. Alhamdulillah, this year, the holy month arrived at a time when things are starting to look up again. Two great news greet us at this momentous time. First, is that Malaysia’s borders have reopened beginning 1 April 2022, and we can welcome international visitors to our shores again. Second, the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2022 report has been released, with Malaysia once again topping the ranking in Muslim-Friendly Travel.
These developments could not have come at a better time as ITC has several international conferences lined up for the year 2022, like the Islamic Tourism Week, World Islamic Tourism Conference (WITC) and Islamic Tourism Outlook Conference (ITOC), to name a few.
Embracing the tourism industry’s restart, ITC plans to organise these events physically, on a larger scale, inviting international speakers and delegates to attend them in-person. This is an opportunity to encourage foreign exchange earnings that can help to revive local tourism businesses. The multiplier effect of business events will benefit sectors that are connected to the tourism industry, from accommodation, transportation, wellness, education to food and beverages, among others that can contribute to economic recovery.
We view ITC’s role as one that connects the dots for industry players such as tour guides wanting to raise their game and cooperatives aiming to expand their business and market. While faith-based needs underpin the delivery of Islamic Tourism products and services, we also believe that goals for wellness, innovation, heritage, environment, and sustainability bring value to the industry and should be developed together.
Our journey is made all the more eased with great partnerships, among them with female business owners, industry innovators, media practitioners, research consultants, and tourism industry players whom we were proud to honour during the recent International Women’s Day campaign.
As we welcome the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, I am happy to share the release of ITC’s second series of Ramadan Success Journal, a digital journal as a companion to your Ramadan journey this year.
On behalf of ITC, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to all of our partners in the tourism industry and beyond, who have been with us in the past two years. The last couple of years may not have been the best for the tourism industry, but together, we stay resilient, patient and hopeful. Let’s pray that we can put all that in the past now, with the tourism industry restarting again. Here’s to new beginnings!
May this Ramadan be much better in value than before, InshaAllah. Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
Dato’ Dr. Mohmed Razip Haji Hasan
Director General, Islamic Tourism Centre[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
