From The Director-General’s Journal
September 1, 2022 09:29:17 Alhamdulillah, this year, the holy month arrived at a time when things are starting to look up again.
Blog
BREAKING THE FOOD WASTE CHAIN
April 12, 2022 09:49:59Learn how our MFAR hotel partner, Sunway Resort, cuts back on their kitchen food waste, and find out how you can do it, too, at home with 3 easy tips.
From The Director-General’s Journal
April 7, 2022 12:41:58Alhamdulillah, 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.
SUSTAINABILITY BOOSTS THE CONCEPT OF MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
March 23, 2022 11:49:42Dr. Irwan Mohammad Ali, Coordinator of the Industry, Community and Alumni Network, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Perak Branch, offers this perspective on how Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality relates to sustainability, and how travel connects us at a deeper level with the meaning of life and the greatness of the ...
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH ANIS RAMLI
March 10, 2022 11:45:27We love engaging with Halaluxe's founder and editor, Ms. Anis Ramli, who merges her travel and journalistic experience to advance the Islamic Tourism narrative globally. The unique and holistic retreats she curates and hosts convey the potential of experiential halal luxury.
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH NORMAH SULAIMAN
March 10, 2022 11:27:51We’re excited to introduce Ms. Normah Sulaiman, Director of Islamic Outreach ABIM Centre and Masjid Tour Guide Programme. Her enthusiasm for volunteering and determination to sow good deeds are a source of inspiration for us, a great reminder to always be kind and selfless.
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH HANA HALIM
March 10, 2022 11:16:03Engaging with Ms. Hana Halim, the COO of Bondahaven Sdn Bhd and President of Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA) in developing Islamic Tourism has been a fruitful journey for ITC. Her industry experience, business wisdom and heart for balanced wellness are values that we greatly admire in ...
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH HAJAH SAFINAH HAJI YAAKOB
March 10, 2022 11:10:28Collaborating with Hajah Safinah Haji Yaakob, the CEO and founder of Future Forest International Sdn Bhd, gives Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) insight into her drive for sustainability, wellness, and community empowerment, and we look forward to seeing her achieve more success.
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH AIDA LIM ABDULLAH
March 10, 2022 11:06:04Ms. Aida Lim Abdullah’s vast experience in nation-building, corporate leadership, innovation and the Halal ecosystem has made her a valuable collaborator with ITC, where we share the same goals and vision in our Islamic Tourism journey.
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH DR. MAY THEN
March 8, 2022 15:27:02Working with Dr. May, the founder of Attiya Spa, has been a fantastic experience for Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) on our journey in advancing Islamic Tourism in Malaysia. We can’t help but be inspired by her enthusiasm and passion. We’ll be rooting for your next journey in bolstering the ...
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH LIZ OTHMAN
March 7, 2022 21:08:56We are so fortunate to have a supporter and collaborator in Ms. Liz Othman of Teratak Spa. Her passion for wellness, drive for helping others through coaching, as well as her big heart for family are values that we love about her. Let’s be inspired by this powerhouse of ...
ITC CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH HANNAH PEARSON
March 7, 2022 21:06:22We’re excited to have Ms. Hannah Pearson, Director of Pear Anderson, as one of ITC’s close collaborators, sharing her insights into the Southeast Asian travel market. We look forward to cheer her on her journey in the travel business as well as her trail adventures!
FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S DESK
January 19, 2022 11:46:59Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Another challenging year has passed. For us, at Islamic Tourism Centre, being closely involved in stakeholder relations in tourism, we were keenly aware of the impact of the pandemic upon those in the industry.
Alhamdulillah, despite limited resources and the trials of 2021, we forged ahead in our mission to ...
MALAYSIA, THE WORLD’S HEALTHCARE MARVEL
September 24, 2021 07:30:23Malaysia's medical personnel are able to communicate fluently in English, Malay, Mandarin and many other languages. (Picture: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council/MHTC)
With 16 hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International, one of the world’s leading nonprofit patient safety organizations, medical treatment is world-class in Malaysia.
The doctors and medical staff ...
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TOUR GUIDE (MFTG) PROGRAMME
September 22, 2021 11:58:28Read the exclusive interview between Gaya Travel Magazine and the Director-General of Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) to learn more about ITC's Muslim-friendly Tour Guide (MFTG) programme.
Also in this issue are the experiences and takeaways of the programme as shared by MFTGs themselves along with a listicle of destinations in ...
MALAYSIA, THE WORLD’S HEALTHCARE MARVEL
September 21, 2021 11:04:22The marvel that is Malaysia’s healthcare system has been shaped by a unique mix of factors such as the Malaysian spirit of excellence, its rich heritage and support from both the government and businesses.
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A TASTE OF HERITAGE
September 16, 2021 21:17:10Malaysian cuisine, like its people, is a melting pot of spices and flavours. Until three years ago, 230 Malaysian cuisines that are near extinction or "long forgotten" have been gazetted as National Culinary Heritage by the Department of National Heritage. The recipes for these heritage food (makanan warisan), as ...
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: COVER OF @HALAL MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE
September 14, 2021 16:06:58Read the compilation of ITC-related stories in the September/October 2021 issue of @Halal Magazine.
MALAYSIA, THE WORLD’S HEALTHCARE MARVEL
September 14, 2021 07:00:33Malaysia has flourished from receiving humble numbers of 643,000 health travellers in 2011, to up to 1.22 million in 2019 signifying trust in our healthcare services.
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MOSQUE TOURISM, A COMPELLING PRODUCT
September 9, 2021 16:13:39Read the cover story in @Halal Magazine on Islamic Tourism Centre where its Director-General discussed the topic of Mosque Tourism alongside its development and potential.
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: UNDERSTANDING MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
September 9, 2021 15:49:30Read the story in @Halal Magazine on the ‘Understanding Muslim-friendly Tourism’ webinar, organised by ITC, as part of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) subregional cooperation initiative, which took place on 19 August 2021.
MALAYSIA, THE WORLD’S HEALTHCARE MARVEL
September 7, 2021 12:12:34From Hidden Jewel to Healthcare Marvel, Malaysia has been recognised as the number one healthcare travel destination by volume according to The Global Market Report 2018 produced by LaingBuisson.
FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S DESK
August 16, 2021 12:36:32Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. In the name of Allah The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Assalamualaikum WHB (May Peace Be Upon You) from Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) in Malaysia.
Before I begin, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for being able to pen down a few words for this ...
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: WOMEN DRIVE ISLAMIC TOURISM CEREMONY
August 10, 2021 20:57:23Read the story in @Halal Magazine on Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC)’s inaugural Corporate Forum (ITCF), “Women in Islamic Tourism Economy” (WITE) Forum, which took place on 8 July 2021.
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: LESSONS IN HISTORY, CULTURE AND NATURE
July 31, 2021 22:43:26A royal town or Bandar Diraja is a unique feature that only nine states — Selangor, Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu — that practise a monarchial system of government have. This is opposed to the gubernatorial system used in Malaysia's Borneo states (Sabah and ...
FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S DESK
June 23, 2021 13:15:14Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. In the name of Allah The All-Compassionate, All-Merciful.
Assalamualaikum WHB (May Peace Be Upon You) from Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) in Malaysia.
Before I begin, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for being able to pen down a few words for this Director-General’s note.
As ...
ITC CHAIRMAN’S SPECIAL MESSAGE
June 23, 2021 13:14:08Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. In the name of Allah The All-Compassionate, All-Merciful.
Assalamualaikum WHB (May Peace Be Upon You) and greetings from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia (MOTAC).
I am pleased to share that on 22 June 2021, ITC turned 12 years old -- a much rewarding journey in developing Malaysia ...
FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S DESK
June 22, 2021 16:11:26Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. In the name of Allah The All-Compassionate, All-Merciful.
Assalamualaikum WHB (May Peace Be Upon You) from Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) in Malaysia.
Alhamdulillah, Islamic Tourism Centre set out to build Malaysia’s tourism industry in Islamic Tourism in 2009, and today, 12 years later, we see the fruits of our labour ...
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: COVER OF @HALAL MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2021 ISSUE
June 3, 2021 15:07:14Read the compilation of ITC-related stories in the May/June 2021 issue of @Halal Magazine
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: AIMING TO BUILD RESILIENCE
June 3, 2021 15:07:10Read the cover story in @Halal Magazine on Islamic Tourism Centre where its Director-General talks about the need for inclusivity among industry players to develop Islamic tourism and Muslim-friend tourism and hospitality by catering to the needs and interests of this niche market.
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: GENTING TOURISM MARKET TO MOUNT BY Q3
June 3, 2021 15:07:05Read the story in @Halal Magazine on ITC’s MFAR hotel, Grand Ion Delemen Hotel Genting Highlands, driven to create a better Shariah-compliant environment in the well-known Malaysian highland destination, while projecting the Muslim travel market there to surge and hit its peak by the end of 2021
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: REVAMP THE LOCAL TOURISM CAMPAIGNS
June 3, 2021 15:07:00Read the story in @Halal Magazine on ITC’s MFAR hotel, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, which posits that the process of rebuilding the Muslim travel market should begin domestically, with a positive mindset, by leveraging on campaigns and activities
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MUSLIM-FRIENDLY MARKET IS THE NEXT CHINA MARKET
June 3, 2021 15:06:55Read the story in @Halal Magazine on Muslim travel research firm Pear Anderson, which believes that the Muslim travel market is not just the element that fills the gap in tourism, but it will be the next China market given its diverse prospects, geography and demography
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NO ISSUE TO BE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY
June 3, 2021 15:06:51Read the story in @Halal Magazine on ITC’s MFAR hotel, Pullman Kuching, which is riding on a wave of positive feedback courtesy of its receipt of the recognition by ITC as it has raised trust among its customers, particularly, Muslim tourists, and is driven to further improve its efforts ...
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: TOURISM INDUSTRY NEEDS TO PLAN AHEAD
June 3, 2021 15:06:44Read the write-up in @Halal Magazine by the Director-General of ITC, who pens down his thoughts on the road ahead for the tourism industry globally, and the role Islamic tourism and Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality plays to create a more sustainable tourism industry
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MFAR LOGO, A MARK FOR ‘MUSLIM-FRIENDLY’ FACILITIES
June 3, 2021 15:06:35Read the story in @Halal Magazine on the launch of ITC’s initiative, the Muslim-friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR), regarded as the essence towards providing more significant Muslim-friendly infrastructures and facilities targetted for the Muslim-travel market
THE PEARL KUALA LUMPUR GLOWS BRIGHTER WITH MUSLIM-FRIENDLY RECOGNITION FROM ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE
June 3, 2021 12:09:17In the past few years, The Pearl Kuala Lumpur embarked on an aggressive rebranding campaign to enhance its public image and service delivery to celebrate more than two decades of great hospitality. Part of the rebranding process was to focus on the emerging Muslim tourist market, which is why ...
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
June 1, 2021 21:00:03Assalamualaikum and greetings to all!
Allow me to begin by wishing everyone an Eid Mubarak 1442 AH! I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to be able to pen down a few words for this editor’s note.
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL BRAND, AMARI JOHOR BAHRU, REALISES POTENTIAL OF THE MUSLIM TOURIST MARKET
May 31, 2021 11:47:40Amari Johor Bahru, located in the capital of Johor, Malaysia, is undoubtedly one of its kind in the country. The first hotel under Thailand’s Amari brand to open in Malaysia, Amari Johor Bahru is located strategically in Johor Bahru (commonly called JB)’s CBD with the island nation of Singapore ...
ITC IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 10 ON 10 WITH ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE
May 20, 2021 16:04:04Read the exclusive interview between Gaya Travel Magazine and the Director-General of Islamic Tourism Centre to learn why ITC has taken a great interest in championing the development of Islamic tourism to cater to this high-value market segment.
MUSLIM TOURIST MARKET IS THE FUTURE, SAYS WORLD-RENOWNED HOTEL CHAIN, DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KUALA LUMPUR
May 11, 2021 15:13:59International hotel brand DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur (DTHKL), managed by Hilton Worldwide, is committed towards the development of the Islamic Tourism in Malaysia, which it says presents many opportunities to grow.
DEVELOPING MOSQUES AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN MALAYSIA
March 22, 2021 16:14:09In recent years, Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) has keenly observed the growing interest in mosque tourism. Mosques have become an attraction in themselves drawing interest from both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
NO ISSUE TO BE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY, SAYS FIVE-STAR PULLMAN KUCHING
February 11, 2021 11:55:14Luxury property, Pullman Kuching, fronting the Kuching waterfront in Sarawak, Malaysia, had an easy experience in being certified as a Muslim-friendly hotel.
SUNWAY HOTELS & RESORTS STRENGTHENS MUSLIM-FRIENDLY HOSPITALITY WITH MFAR RECOGNITION
February 11, 2021 11:52:11Established property, lifestyle, and hospitality brand, Sunway Hotels & Resorts, was among the first to apply for Islamic Tourism Centre’s (ITC) Muslim-friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR) programme in 2020. Today, three of its properties in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, namely Sunway Resort, Sunway Pyramid Hotel, and Sunway Clio Hotel, have ...
MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL TOURISM POLICY: FOCUS ON RECOVERY, CONNECTIONS, AND SUSTAINABILITY
February 11, 2021 11:49:23In late December 2020, the Prime Minister of Malaysia launched Malaysia’s National Tourism Policy 2020-2030, giving concrete direction for the future of Malaysia’s tourism industry over the next ten years.
In his speech, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of recovery, connections, and sustainability. In the challenging period that we ...
TRAINING TOURIST GUIDES TO SAVE LIVES
February 11, 2021 11:46:37If you’re a guide leading a group of international tourists on an excursion, what would you do if an accident happened, putting one of your charges in a life or death situation? Would you know exactly what to do?
With this in mind, Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) organised a basic ...
ITC PUBLISHES ENRICHED KNOWLEDGE OF ISLAMIC TOURISM IN 2020 JOURNAL
February 11, 2021 11:38:52Despite the challenging pandemic situation we all faced last year which extends till today, Islamic Tourism Centre has published the third volume of the Islamic Tourism Journal.
We are pleased that we could honour our annual initiative to enrich the knowledge base surrounding the concept of Islamic tourism and Muslim-friendly ...
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
January 21, 2021 17:22:58How fast time flies! We are now in the year 2021 after enduring a very challenging 2020. Many industries were affected by the pandemic, and the global tourism economy, unfortunately, was not spared either.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals declined by 72 per cent ...