European Chamber welcomes the growing trend of Halal Tourism in the Philippines

Boracay Island- The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in Southern Mindanao has expressed support for the country’s growing trend of halal tourism.

In an interview, Antonio ‘Tony’ Peralta, the chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Southern Mindanao, told the Boracay Island News Network that Halal tourism is important to promote Muslim friendly tourism in the country.

Southern Mindanao, also currently known as the Davao region, is composed of five provinces, namely Davao de Oro, Davao Del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental.

“Tourism continues to grow as the country is becoming a tourism hub, with the emergence of halal-certified establishments in the country, especially in Mindanao. This development bodes well for promoting the country’s tourism to foreign markets, especially in the Middle East and South Asia,” Peralta said.

Michelle Taylan, the president of the Global Tourism Business Association, said that Halal Tourism was popularized by the Department of Tourism (DoT) in this resort island in September 2024. The launch was part of the tourism week celebration.

“We are also forging more partnerships with the DoT in the coming months in Cebu and Metro Manila,” Taylan said.

According to Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, the country’s largest hotel operator i the country, they noted India, Indonesia, and Malaysia continue to be MHR’s leading Muslim market sources, contributing to a 40% increase in Muslim stays and a 58% growth in revenue from January to March 2025 versus the same period this year.