Resorts World Cruises has been named the Muslim-friendly Cruise Line
of the Year at the Halal in Travel Awards 2023, held in Singapore.
Since June 2022, the Genting Dream has been the only cruise ship in
the region that provides a holistic halal-friendly cruise experience for
its Muslim guests embarking from dual homeports in Singapore and Kuala
Lumpur (via Port Klang).
Michael Goh, president of Resorts World Cruises, said the award
“recognises our efforts and commitments in pioneering new offerings that
make a difference in the cruise sector”.
“The feedback and demand among the Muslim community have been very
encouraging as the Halal-friendly offerings encompasses beyond the Halal
certified cuisine, which also include access to prayer rooms, special
Sahur and Iftar menus in Ramadhan, 24-hour medical centre and spa
services based on gender requirements and more,” Goh added.
Interestingly, Indonesia and Malaysia have emerged as the top two
destinations globally for Muslim travellers in the newly released
Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023.
The annual report analyses data across nearly 140 countries to offer
comprehensive insights into which destinations best meet the needs of
the increasingly influential Halal travel segment.
The report also found that a number of global travel behaviours are
impacting trends among Muslim travellers, with the demographic
increasingly incorporating sustainability into their travel as well as
opting for destinations and activities to improve their health and
wellness.
Muslim travellers are also finding opportunities for immersive
experiences and authenticity and incorporating personal development into
their travel plans.
“While by no means a monolith, Muslim travellers are often looking
for their travel plans to align with certain faith-oriented criteria,
such as availability of Halal foods, rooms for prayer, and encouraging
communications and messaging from destinations,” said Fazal Bahardeen,
founder & CEO, CrescentRating.
“Over the years we’ve conducted this research, we’ve consistently
seen markets that prioritise these requirements perform well among
Muslim travellers.”