SERI KEMBANGAN, SELANGOR, 28 JUNE 2024: Dalam langkah penting untuk memperkukuhkan sektor pelancongan dan hospitaliti mesra Muslim di Malaysia, Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) dan Persatuan Hotel Bajet & Bisnes Malaysia (MyBHA) telah menandatangani Memorandum Persefahaman (MoU) untuk meningkatkan tawaran penginapan mesra Muslim di seluruh negara.
MoU ini menggariskan komitmen ITC untuk menyediakan latihan menyeluruh mengenai Pelancongan dan Hospitaliti Mesra Muslim (Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality – MFTH) kepada ahli MyBHA. Inisiatif ini bertujuan untuk membimbing ahli MyBHA untuk mendapatkan Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR) daripada ITC. Pengiktirafan ini akan mengesahkan komitmen mereka untuk memenuhi keperluan unik pelancong Muslim, sekali gus memupuk persekitaran pelancongan yang lebih inklusif dan mesra di Malaysia.
En. Nizran Noordin, Ketua Pengarah ITC, menyatakan: “Kerjasama ini menandakan langkah penting dalam mengekalkan kedudukan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pelancongan mesra Muslim terkemuka. Dengan membekalkan ahli MyBHA dengan pengetahuan dan kemahiran yang diperlukan melalui latihan MFTH kami, kami berhasrat memastikan pelancong Muslim berasa selesa sepanjang penginapan mereka di Malaysia.”
MyBHA, yang mewakili kira-kira 2,700 hotel bajet dan bisnes di seluruh Malaysia, berada dalam kedudukan yang baik untuk mendapat manfaat daripada kerjasama ini. Daripada jumlah ini, sekitar 236 ahli MyBHA sudah berdaftar dan mendapat penggredan dari Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya, sekali gus memenuhi kriteria asas untuk pendaftaran MFAR. Pematuhan sedia ada ini menjadikan mereka calon ideal untuk latihan dan pengiktirafan lanjut dalam sektor mesra Muslim.
Dr. Sri Ganesh Michiel, Presiden Nasional MyBHA, menyatakan, “Persatuan kami berdedikasi untuk meningkatkan kualiti dan inclusivity perkhidmatan penginapan di Malaysia. MoU ini dengan ITC bukan sahaja memberikan peluang kepada ahli kami untuk meningkatkan standard (piawaian) mereka dan kekal relevan di pasaran, tetapi juga selaras dengan matlamat kami untuk mempromosikan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pilihan bagi pelancong Muslim.”
Sesi latihan akan merangkumi pelbagai aspek hospitaliti mesra Muslim, termasuk perkhidmatan makanan Halal, kemudahan solat, dan kemudahan lain yang memenuhi keperluan tetamu Muslim. Inisiatif ini dijangka akan meningkatkan daya tarikan hotel ahli MyBHA kepada pelancong Muslim, baik di dalam dan di luar negara.
Majlis menandatangani memorandum ini, yang diadakan di Pusat Pameran dan Konvensyen Antarabangsa Mines (Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre – MIECC) semasa Malaysia Halal Exposia, dihadiri oleh wakil-wakil dari kedua-dua organisasi dan menandakan permulaan usaha kerjasama untuk meningkatkan ekosistem hospitaliti mesra Muslim di Malaysia. Kerjasama ini dijangka memainkan peranan penting dalam menyokong matlamat Malaysia untuk menjadi Hab Transit Umrah bagi rantau ini dan Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2026.
About MyBHA
We are an Association registered with the Registrar of Societies under the Societies Act 1966 (Societies Regulations 1984) under the name of the Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association [MyBHA] (Formally Known as The Malaysia Budget Hotel Association [MBHA] with the Registration No. PPM-006-14-01082001.
The association was formed in 2001 and currently has more than 2,000 members nationwide. Our objective is to represent and assist licensed and registered budget hotels and resorts in Malaysia by bringing forth all issues faced by our members to the relevant and responsible parties in order to enhance the image of the under-three-stars budget hotel and resort industry specifically and the national tourism industry in general.
About the 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) 2024, a position it has defended since the launch of the Index in 2015. Malaysia was also 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 email comms@itc.gov.my or the following individuals:
Anis Ramli, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 012 321 9137
Nadhirah Aripin, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 019 356 0530
Ainaa Izzati, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 010 266 2535
Khairul Iman, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 013 289 2609
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 itc@itc.gov.my
Follow ITC on these social platforms:
Facebook: Islamic Tourism Centre
X: @itc_my
Instagram: @itc_my
YouTube: Islamic Tourism Centre
