Japan is most-improved country for Muslim-friendliness

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Malaysia may have taken the top spot as the best destination for Muslim travellers but Japan has demonstrated the most commitment to bettering its facilities for this market segment.

Singapore-based Muslim travel specialist Crescentrating yesterday released its annual ranking of destinations that cater best to the needs of Muslim travellers, which saw Malaysia in pole position again. Main criteria taken into account include the suitability of the destination for family holidays, service levels, Muslim-friendly facilities and marketing initiatives aimed at Muslim travellers.

Japan rose from 50^th spot last year to 40^th currently, showing the greatest improvement of all countries surveyed.

Singapore’s The Business Times  quoted Crescentrating chief executive, Fazal Bahardeen, as saying: “Japan has definitely been the most active destination during the last year to focus on this segment of travellers”

“It has launched a number of initiatives – from awareness programmes to the local industry to releasing the Muslim travel guide to Japan.” Crescentrating’s release also noted that a number of airports in Japan now offer halal food and prayer rooms.

This year’s survey ranked 60 destinations, 10 more than in 2013. For countries within the Organization of Islamic Coperation (OIC), the United Arab Emirates took second place followed by Turkey, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to round up the top five.

Singapore leads as the number one halal friendly destination outside the OIC for the second year running. South Africa, Thailand, the UK and Bosnia & Herzegovina made up the rest of the top five.

-TTG Asia.