ITC CELEBRATES PARTNERS IN JOYOUS NETWORKING SESSION

Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) Director-General and staff members

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 APRIL 2024: Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) hosted some 500 long-time and new partners in a joyous Industry Networking Session, at Temu Hall, KL Tower, today. The networking session was organised just as Muslims around the world welcomed the Islamic month of Syawal, the season for forgiveness and reconnecting, two weeks ago.

As ITC Director-General, Nizran Noordin delivered his festive wishes to the guests in his Welcome Remarks, he mentioned, “In the 15 years of our establishment, ITC has worked with reputable organisations and individuals in the industry, from the public and private sectors, to ensure Malaysia continues to be a welcoming destination for Muslim tourists, a big and booming market to tap into. Hence, this event signifies our appreciation to all of our partners and comrades in the industry.”

Nizran also announced ITC’s plans for 2024, including the return of signature events, such as intellectual conferences like the World Islamic Tourism Conference on 12 and 13 September, the Islamic Tourism Symposium in November and crowd favourite, Islamic Tourism Month, which will run from 16 August to 30 September this year. The agency will also continue to organise essential training programmes, for industry players to achieve their recognitions for ITC’s Muslim-Friendly Tourist Guide (MFTG) and Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR) programmes. Furthermore, ITC is also looking into addressing untapped Muslim tourist markets such as China, Central Asia, Europe and Russia, among others with its partners in the industry this year.

The networking session gathered ambassadors, high commissioners, policymakers, hoteliers, travel agents, tourist guides, tourism mosque representatives, tourism and hospitality product and service providers, and media dedicated to further strengthening Malaysia’s Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) ecosystem. In the past decade, Malaysia has received numerous accolades for its performance as an ideal Muslim-friendly destination, which includes topping the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI)’s ranking for Muslim-friendly destinations for eight consecutive reports and being named the “Muslim-Friendly Destination (OIC) of the Year” and “Muslim Women-Friendly Destination of the Year” at the Halal in Travel Awards 2023.

Muslim tourists are an emerging market in the tourism industry, forecasted to contribute 230 million to international tourist arrivals and USD 225 billion in expenditures come 2028. “ITC is always open to collaboration ideas by industry players that seek to attract this sizable tourist market through research, training and seminars, standards development and more, especially in realising the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) goals for the forthcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026),” affirmed Nizran, inviting the guests to journey the MFTH path together with ITC.

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About Islamic Tourism Centre

Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) is an entity under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia, tasked to develop the Islamic Tourism segment for Malaysia. It advocates for Muslim-friendly tourism (MFT) by offering research and market intelligence, training, industry development consultation, Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) services standards and recognition, and information exchange.

Malaysia was named the top country in the region in the MFTH sector by the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2022. The country also retained the top-ranked destination in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023, a position it has defended since the launch of the Index in 2015. In the same year, Malaysia was recognised as the Top Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year (OIC) and the Top Muslim Women-Friendly Destination of the Year in Halal in Travel Awards 2023.

In addition, ITC was named the recipient of the Strategic Business Alliance Award at The BrandLaureate World Halal Best Brand E-Branding Awards 2021. It is a recognition of ITC’s efforts and endeavours in formulating new strategies to meet the new normal of the business environment to ensure business continuity and sustainability, notwithstanding its role in developing and growing the Islamic tourism segment in Malaysia.

These recognitions are an added motivation for ITC to continue to strengthen its efforts in being a prime mover and leading institution to ensure Malaysia is at the forefront of MFTH.

For further details, kindly contact:
Islamic Tourism Centre,
Level 13, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia
No. 2 Tower 1, Jalan P5/6,
Precinct 5, 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Tel: 03-8891 7177 or via email comms@itc.gov.my

Follow ITC on these social platforms:
Facebook: Islamic Tourism Centre
Instagram: @itc_my
LinkedIn: Islamic Tourism Centre
TikTok: @itc_my
YouTube: Islamic Tourism Centre

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