ramadan travel report 2016

MasterCard-CrescentRating

Ramadan Travel ReportBy MasterCard & CrescentRating

June 2016

Ramadan Travel Report

By MasterCard & CrescentRating

June 2016


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Table of Contents....................................................................................................................... 3

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The Muslim Travel Market

Ramadan Around the World

Traveling During Ramadan

Key Findings

Catering to the Needs of Muslim Travelers in Ramadan

Interview

Data Sources

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About CrescentRating

MasterCard is a technology company in the global payments industry. MasterCard operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.

MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities - such as shopping, traveling, running a business, and managing finances - easier, more secure, and more efficient for everyone.

CrescentRating is a leading authority on Halal-friendly travel. The company uses insights, industry intelligence, lifestyle, behavior and research on the needs of the Muslim traveler to deliver authoritative guidance on all aspects of Halal-friendly travel to organizations across the globe.

Formed in 2008, CrescentRating services are used by every tier of the tourism industry globally, from government bodies and tourism agencies to hospitality service providers, to inform how they can meet and serve the needs of the Muslim traveler.

CrescentRating’s services include rating & accreditation, research & consultancy, workshops & training, ranking & indices, destination marketing, event support/partnerships and content provisioning. HalalTrip and Muslim Travel Warehouse are sister companies of CrescentRating Pte. Ltd.

About MasterCard

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The Muslim travel market is one of the fastest growing segments in the global travel industry. Accordingto the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2016, there were 117 million Muslim international travelers globally in 2015. Driven by a rapid population growth of Muslims, a growing middle class and younger population, this number is projected to grow to 168 million by 2020. The travel expenditure by this segment is expected to exceed USD 200 billion by 2020. This growth has been facilitated by an increase in ease of access to travel information and the availability of Muslim-friendly travel services and facilities at more destinations.

The Muslim Travel Market

The choice of travel destinations amongst Muslim travelers has evolved. In the past, they often chose to travel to a few specific destinations due to the limited availability of Muslim-friendly facilities and services or due to religious needs at particular locations and periods of the year. The main example of religious travel is the performance of the pilgrimage or Haj to Makkah, which can only be performed during the month of Dhul Hijjah or the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.

This has substantially changed over the years. In today’s globalized and interconnected world, the travel needs of the Muslims have become more varied and dynamic. As such, the more affluent and empowered Muslim traveler now seeks for destinations with high levels of services which take into account their unique needs throughout the year including the month of Ramadan.

With the growing trend of travel all around the year, the MasterCard-CrescentRating Ramadan Travel Report analyzes the changing travel trends in Ramadan and the main drivers shaping this. The report aims to help businesses and destinations better understand and cater to the different groups of Muslim travelers during this holy month.

The Need to Travel Anywhere, Anytime

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Perhaps no other month in the year punctuates the lifestyles of Muslims around the world more than the holy month of Ramadan. In this month, Muslims observe fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam, by abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking as well as intimacy from dawn to dusk. Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the lunar system, and thus has a 12 month cycle revolving around 355 days. As this is 10 days less than the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic months, including the month of Ramadan, vary each year in comparison. Yearly, the month of Ramadan advances by about 10 days compared to the Gregorian calendar.

This also means that for a given region, the daytime temperature and the duration of fasting will be different each year, as the month of Ramadan revolves around the solar calendar (Gregorian calendar) taking 30 years to complete a full cycle.

The length of the fasting period can vary substantially across different parts of the world due to the changing times of sunrise and sunset. Although the average fasting time during Ramadan is between 11-16 hours per day, certain parts of the world, such as Europe, can experience fasting durations exceeding 20 hours when Ramadan occurs during the summer months. In some parts of the world, when Ramadan occurs during summer, the daytime temperature could soar above 40°C. As such, while lifestyle changes may be common for Muslims around the world, the experience of fasting itself may be different for Muslims living in different regions due to the impact of the duration of fasting and daytime temperatures.

As for the common lifestyle changes of Muslims during Ramadan, although they will continue with their normal day-to-day activities, they will also allocate additional time and effort towards other religious activities such as reciting the Qur’an, frequenting the mosque for prayers and doing charitable work.

Some of the unique features of the month of Ramadan include:

Ramadan Around the World

The morning meal taken before the beginning of the fasting period is called Suhour, and the meal taken at the breaking of a fast when the fasting period ends is called Iftar. These are very important meals for Muslims. It is best to take Suhour as near as possible to the start of the fasting period, and Iftar should be taken as soon as the fasting period ends.

Iftar and Suhour Meals

During the month of Ramadan, most Muslims will pray an additional congregational prayer called the Taraweeh prayer. The timing of the Taraweeh prayer is after the last of the five prayers of the day, known as the Isha’a prayers.

Taraweeh Prayers

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The vast majority of Muslims around the world prefer not to travel during the month of Ramadan. Instead, they would spend the month with family and friends at home in a familiar environment to maximize the observance of faith-related practices. Apart from home, the other top three locations that Muslims are eager to spend a good part of the month of Ramadan are the three holy mosques of Masjid al-Haram, Masjid an-Nabawi and Masjid al-Aqsa.

Makkah and Madinah, in which Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi are located respectively, remain the top two destinations for Muslims during Ramadan. During this period, Muslims would try to combine the performance of Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Makkah with the unique benefits of observing the fasting of Ramadan within the sanctity of the holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. In addition, many Muslims also spend the last 10 days staying in Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi for the purpose of worship in seclusion or Itikaf.

According to Saudi Arabian authorities, 2015 saw more than 6 million visitors during the monthof Ramadan. With the expansion of the two holy mosques, this number could continue to rise in the coming years.

Apart from home and the holy mosques, there is a growing trend amongst Muslims to spend their Ramadan in other locations. In most cases this could be due to necessity.

The six key drivers contributing to the increasing number of Muslims traveling during Ramadan:

Umrah Travel: Umrah travel continues to be the main faith-based need for Muslim travelers journeying to the holy city of Makkah. This number is set to increase with more capacity being catered to travelers visiting the holy site.

Traveling During Ramadan

Six Key Drivers of Muslims Traveling in Ramadan Six Key Drivers of Muslims Traveling in Ramadan

Umrah TravelBusiness TravelRamadan with FamilyRamadan CultureEid FestivalExtreme Weather or Duration

Business Travel: Muslim business travelers would need to continue to travel should business activities and dealings fall in the month of Ramadan. With globalized trade and an increasingly interconnected world, the need for business travel in Ramadan will remain.

Ramadan with Family: With an increasing trend in family members living overseas for long periods due to studies or work, with some even migrating to other countries, Ramadan becomes an important and precious period for Muslims to travel and be closer to their loved ones.

Ramadan Culture: Muslim travelers are also opting to travel during this period to experience the unique ways Ramadan is practised around the world. The culture experienced in another country may be significantly different from that in their home country.

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Extreme Weather or Duration: Unlike the past where Muslims were concentrated in specific regions, today they have become a globalized community and live in almost every corner of the world. Muslims living in environments with extreme weather conditions or long fasting durations may be motivated to travel to other destinations during the month of Ramadan so that they can perform their fasting more comfortably. This is especially true for first and second generation of migrants who have not grown accustomed to their new living conditions, as well as people of old age.

With increasing availability of Ramadan-friendly facilities in many destinations, the above drivers will continue to change the dynamics of Muslims spending the month of Ramadan away from their usual place of residence.

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Since March 2015, the MasterCard-CrescentRating partnership has seen the release of a number reportson the Muslim travel market. These reports have become premier resources for destinations and businesses to develop strategies to attract and cater to the needs of the growing Muslim travel segment.

The MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) is now the global benchmark on how destinations are performing in attracting the Muslim market segment. In 2015 MasterCard and CrescentRating also released the Muslim Travel Shopping Index (MTSI) which looks at the shopping and dining behavior of this segment.

The “MasterCard-CrescentRating Ramadan Travel Report” is another landmark report in this series. It looks at the changing patterns of travel during the holy month of fasting. This report is the most comprehensive study of its kind giving destinations and businesses useful insights on how they can develop medium to long-term strategies to attract and cater to Muslim travelers during the month of Ramadan over the next 15 years.

A total of 50 destinations were analyzed in this year’s report. These were selected based on the top 50 destinations from the MasterCard-CrescentRating GMTI 2016 report, 49 of which (excluding Saudi Arabia) were benchmarked based on the weighted averages of three criteria over a span of 15 years, which is an effective timeframe for the long term strategic planning for a destination.

The criteria used in this study were based on the convenience, comfort and ease of travel, and not from the perspective of Islamic rewards. As such, the MasterCard-CrescentRating Ramadan Travel Report focuses on the following three themes:

MasterCard-CrescentRating Ramadan Travel ReportOverview

Average Daytime TemperatureFasting DurationGMTI 2016 Score. For the purpose of this study, it was assumed that these GMTI scores remain constant over the next 15 years.

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Average DaytimeTemperature

Fasting Duration GMTI 2016 Score

Weather is an important factor that determines a traveler's level of comfort.

Information on weather forecasts of destinations over a period of 15 years were factored into calculation. Only past weather patterns were used in forecasting which does not take into account future global temperature changes such as global warming.

A scale was used to assign points to a range of temperatures with higher points awarded to the cooler temperatures deemed most comfortable for traveling.

Average fasting duration was factored since the number of hours per day spent fasting differs from country to country.

Calculations on the fasting durations of destinations over a period of 15 years were made.

Destinations that did not have longer fasting hours were given higher points in terms of travel comfort.

The GMTI score received by each destination on the Global Muslim Travel Index 2016 was used to take into account the destination's overall Muslim-friendliness.

Latest GMTI 2016 score was kept as a constant for each of destinations over a period of 15 years.

Destinations that were ranked higher on GMTI 2016 received more points for this criteria.

20%Weightage

30%Weightage

50%Weightage

The relatively higher weightage of the GMTI reflects the importance of the Muslim friendly environment especially in the month of Ramadan.

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The 50 destinations analyzed in this report covers 30 OIC* destinations and 20 non-OIC destinations.

Africa Asia

AlgeriaDjiboutiEgyptGambiaMoroccoSenegalSomaliaSouth AfricaSudanTunisia

OIC Members non-OIC destinations

* Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

AzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBruneiChinaHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIranJapanJordanKazakhstanKuwaitKyrgyzstanLebanon

MalaysiaMaldivesOmanPakistanPhilippinesQatarSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSri LankaTaiwanTajikistanThailandTurkeyUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistan

Oceania

Europe

BelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaFranceGermanyRussian FederationSpainSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom

Australia

Americas

United States

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Makkah and Medina (Saudi Arabia) serve as the top destinations from a religious perspective, irrespective of the three criteria used for this analysis. As such, it is excluded from the ranking and has been addressed separately in this study.

The analysis of the rest of the 49 destinations is based on the ranking of these destinations for Muslimtravelers during Ramadan. As average daytime temperature and fasting duration in each destination changes from year to year, combined with GMTI 2016 scores, there is an yearly change in how the destination would rank over the span of 15 years. Table 1 shows the ranking of top 20 most attractive destinations for Muslim travelers in Ramadan from 2016 to 2030.

Key Findings

From 2023 to 2030, Ramadan will occur during the months of April to January. As such, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, such as UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, which are already Muslim friendly, also become attractive destinations from a day-time temperature and fasting duration criteria. North African destinations such as Morocco and Tunisia, in addition to Egypt and Jordan, will also rise in the rankings. While only two GCC member countries, United Arab Emirates and Oman, are present in the top 10 rankings in 2016, this is projected to significantly change as the years progress towards 2030. In 2030, in addition to Saudi Arabia, it is projected that half of the top 10 most attractive destinations for Muslim Travelers in Ramadan will be from the GCC destinations such as UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.

GCC Member States, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan

What can these destinations do to maximize this opportunity?

Offer unique stopover products for passengers traveling to Umrah. This is an opportunity for GCC-based airlines such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar airlines.

Continue to have more and more Muslim friendly services and facilities. This will improve GMTI scores and maintain strong rankings in order to ensure that GCC destinations remain Muslim friendly in Ramadan in the years to come.

Develop strategic plans to offer new products and services that will attract travelers during these years. This could also include business travel market.

Develop destination marketing efforts which synergise and focus on welcoming Muslim travelers to these destinations.

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Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia are the top two destinations for Muslims during Ramadan, regardless of other criteria used in the ranking. The increase in attractiveness of GCC states from 2016 to 2030 will sit well with the Kingdom's efforts to gain momentum and progress towards its recently announced Vision 2030. It presents a significant opportunity to benefit from the influx of Umrah visitors and expand its attractiveness to the rest of the country.

This report has identified several key initiatives under Vision 2030, which will impact the Muslim traveler journeying to the kingdom in the month of Ramadan.

Saudi Arabia and Vision 2030

Average Daytime Temperature

Increase in capacity of Umrah visitors from 8 million to 30 million every year.

Increase in the number of Saudi heritage sites registered with UNESCO to more than double.

Positive news for Muslim travelers seeking to perform Umrah in Ramadan.

Deeper appreciation of Islamic history and culture of Saudi Arabia by Muslim travelers.

Growth in retail sector with increase in the contribution of modern trade and e-commerce to 80 percent by 2020.

More choices for Muslim travelers to purchase products and services with brands familiar to them.

Development of digital infrastructure with over 90 percent housing coverage in densely populated cities and 66 percent in other urban zones.

Easier for Muslim travelers to stay connected with loved ones in the month of Ramadan.

Better transportation system with attractions such as the largest Islamic museum in the world.

Greater convenience for Muslim travelers to commute and visit tourist attractions.

Goals by 2030 Impact on Muslim Travelers in Ramadan

1Table 1 : Ramadan Travel Report Results - GCC Highlights

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Table 2 highlights the rankings of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand from 2016 to2030. The scores of these five Southeast Asian destinations remain largely unchanged due to the relativeconsistency in average daytime temperatures and fasting durations of these equatorial destinations.

However, due to the increasing attractiveness of the Middle Eastern destinations, the rankings of the top five Southeast Asia destinations (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand) are projected to decline from 2016 to 2030. In 2030, Malaysia is the only country expected to retain a spot amongst the top five destinations. In addition, Thailand will drop out of the top 20 rankingsas early as 2021.

Malaysia will be able to maintain a strong leadership position as the most attractive destination for Muslim travelers in Ramadan for 10 years from 2016 to 2026 due to its strong Muslim friendly environment. It is expected to drop a couple of places in the following years.

Southeast Asia Destinations

What can Southeast Asian countries do to weather the storm?

Introduce more Muslim friendly services. Destinations can differentiate by introducing more Rama-dan specific products and services, which cater to the needs of the Muslim traveler in Ramadan.

These can be synergised and consolidated into a campaign targeting Muslims to experience Ramadan in Southeast Asia.

This is especially useful for destinations which will not experience much variations in temperature and fasting durations.

1Table 2: Ramadan Travel Report Results - Southeast Asia Highlights

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Mal

dive

sJo

rdan

Iran

Iran

Tuni

sia

Bah

rain

Sing

apor

eJo

rdan

Indo

nesi

aIn

done

sia

Tuni

sia

Jord

anJo

rdan

11Jo

rdan

J ord

anJo

rdan

Mal

dive

sTu

nisi

aTu

nisi

aIra

nTu

nisi

aEg

ypt

Sing

apor

eJo

rdan

Tuni

sia

Indo

nesi

aIn

done

sia

Indo

nesi

a

12M

oroc

coO

man

Tuni

sia

Tuni

sia

Bru

nei

Om

anB

ahra

inEg

ypt

Tuni

sia

Tuni

sia

Tuni

sia

Jord

anJo

rdan

Turk

eyTu

rkey

13Q

atar

Qat

arQ

atar

Qat

arO

man

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Iran

Kuwa

itKu

wait

Sing

apor

eSi

ngap

ore

Sing

apor

eSi

ngap

ore

Sing

apor

e

14A

ustra

liaA

ustra

liaO

man

Om

anM

aldi

ves

Bah

rain

Sout

h A

frica

Bru

nei

Iran

Iran

Pak

ista

nP

akis

tan

Alg

eria

Ban

glad

esh

Ban

glad

esh

15Th

aila

ndTu

nisi

aA

ustra

liaA

ustra

liaB

ahra

inM

aldi

ves

Egyp

tKu

wait

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Pak

ista

nA

lger

iaA

lger

ia

16Tu

nisi

aB

ahra

inB

ahra

inB

ahra

inEg

ypt

Egyp

tM

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

sA

lger

iaA

lger

iaIra

nA

lger

iaB

rune

iP

akis

tan

Pak

ista

n

17B

ahra

inKa

zakh

stan

Kaza

khst

anEg

ypt

Aus

tralia

Alg

eria

Kuwa

itA

lger

iaM

aldi

ves

Pak

ista

nA

lger

iaIra

nB

angl

ades

hB

rune

iB

rune

i

18B

angl

ades

hTh

aila

ndEg

ypt

Sene

gal

Alg

eria

Aus

tralia

Alg

eria

Sout

h A

frica

Pak

ista

nM

aldi

ves

Ban

glad

esh

Ban

glad

esh

Iran

Iran

Iran

19Se

nega

lEg

ypt

Sene

gal

Alg

eria

Sene

gal

Kuwa

itSe

nega

lH

ong

Kong

Hon

g Ko

ngH

ong

Kong

Mal

dive

sM

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

sUn

ited

King

dom

Unite

d Ki

ngdo

m

20Ka

zakh

stan

Sene

gal

Thai

land

Thai

land

Thai

land

Sene

gal

Hon

g Ko

ngP

akis

tan

Sout

h A

frica

Ban

glad

esh

Hon

g Ko

ngH

ong

Kong

Unite

d Ki

ngdo

mM

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

s

Rank

ing

of C

ount

ries P

er Y

ear

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16


Table 3 highlights the positions of the non-OIC destinations from 2016 to 2030. Only four non-OICdestinations appear in the top 20 in 2016. With the rise of rankings of OIC countries from 2023 to 2030,there will only be two non-OIC destinations in the top 20 rankings from 2025 to 2030.

Overall, non-OIC destinations will remain largely less attractive for Muslim travelers in Ramadan from2016 to 2030. The impact of this will be a decline in Muslim tourist arrivals into non-OIC countries, duringRamadan in the years 2023 to 2030.

Non-OIC Destinations

As most Muslims travel with family for holidays, the school holidays represent a huge opportunity fortourism. In the last six to seven years, the school holidays used to coincide with Ramadan in some of the major Muslim outbound markets. However from 2017 to 2030, Ramadan will occur in non-school holidayperiods amongst most of the top 30 Muslim outbound destinations based on theMasterCard-CrescentRating GMTI 2016 report.

As such, the school holiday periods between June and September will once again become peak periods for Muslims leisure travelers, especially from the GCC countries.

Impact of School Holidays

What can non-OIC destinations do to attract more Ramadan travellers?

Non-OIC destinations which have a good level of services during Ramadan could focus on attractingMuslim travelers from neighbouring countries for shorter visits.

Highlight the level of Muslim friendly services in their travel segments especially offered in the monthof Ramadan.

They could also focus on offering unique Eid gateways.

1

Rank

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

1M

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

aM

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

aM

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

aM

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

aM

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

aM

alay

sia

Unite

d A

rab

Emira

tes

Unite

d A

rab

Emira

tes

Unite

d A

rab

Emira

tes

Qat

ar

2In

done

sia

Indo

nesi

aIn

done

sia

Indo

nesi

aIn

done

sia

Indo

nesi

aUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sM

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

aQ

atar

Om

an

3Si

ngap

ore

Sing

apor

eSi

ngap

ore

Sing

apor

eSi

ngap

ore

Mor

occo

Mor

occo

Mor

occo

Qat

arQ

atar

Qat

arQ

atar

Qat

arM

alay

sia

Mal

aysi

a

4Tu

rkey

Turk

eyTu

rkey

Turk

eyTu

rkey

Turk

eyTu

rkey

Turk

eyTu

rkey

Turk

eyTu

rkey

Om

anO

man

Om

anUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

s

5B

rune

iB

rune

iM

oroc

coM

oroc

coM

oroc

coUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sIn

done

sia

Qat

arM

oroc

coM

oroc

coM

oroc

coM

oroc

coM

oroc

coM

oroc

coM

oroc

co

6So

uth

Afri

caSo

uth

Afri

caSo

uth

Afri

caUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sUn

ited

Ara

b Em

irate

sSi

ngap

ore

Jord

anIn

done

sia

Om

anO

man

Om

anTu

rkey

Turk

eyB

ahra

inB

ahra

in

7M

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

sUn

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Ara

b Em

irate

sSo

uth

Afri

caSo

uth

Afri

caJo

rdan

Sing

apor

eJo

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Indo

nesi

aB

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inB

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inB

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inB

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inKu

wait

Kuwa

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8Un

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frica

Om

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man

Mor

occo

Mal

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rdan

Iran

Iran

Tuni

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Bah

rain

Sing

apor

eJo

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Indo

nesi

aIn

done

sia

Tuni

sia

Jord

anJo

rdan

11Jo

rdan

Jord

anJo

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Mal

dive

sTu

nisi

aTu

nisi

aIra

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nisi

aEg

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Sing

apor

eJo

rdan

Tuni

sia

Indo

nesi

aIn

done

sia

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nesi

a

12M

oroc

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man

Tuni

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sia

Bru

nei

Om

anB

ahra

inEg

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Tuni

sia

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sia

Jord

anJo

rdan

Turk

eyTu

rkey

13Q

atar

Qat

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man

Bru

nei

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nei

Iran

Kuwa

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wait

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apor

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ngap

ore

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apor

eSi

ngap

ore

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apor

e

14A

ustra

liaA

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man

Om

anM

aldi

ves

Bah

rain

Sout

h A

frica

Bru

nei

Iran

Iran

Pak

ista

nP

akis

tan

Alg

eria

Ban

glad

esh

Ban

glad

esh

15Th

aila

ndTu

nisi

aA

ustra

liaA

ustra

liaB

ahra

inM

aldi

ves

Egyp

tKu

wait

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Bru

nei

Pak

ista

nA

lger

iaA

lger

ia

16Tu

nisi

aB

ahra

inB

ahra

inB

ahra

inEg

ypt

Egyp

tM

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

sA

lger

iaA

lger

iaIra

nA

lger

iaB

rune

iP

akis

tan

Pak

ista

n

17B

ahra

inKa

zakh

stan

Kaza

khst

anEg

ypt

Aus

tralia

Alg

eria

Kuwa

itA

lger

iaM

aldi

ves

Pak

ista

nA

lger

iaIra

nB

angl

ades

hB

rune

iB

rune

i

18B

angl

ades

hTh

aila

ndEg

ypt

Sene

gal

Alg

eria

Aus

tralia

Alg

eria

Sout

h A

frica

Pak

ista

nM

aldi

ves

Ban

glad

esh

Ban

glad

esh

Iran

Iran

Iran

19Se

nega

lEg

ypt

Sene

gal

Alg

eria

Sene

gal

Kuwa

itSe

nega

lH

ong

Kong

Hon

g Ko

ngH

ong

Kong

Mal

dive

sM

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

sUn

ited

King

dom

Unite

d Ki

ngdo

m

20Ka

zakh

stan

Sene

gal

Thai

land

Thai

land

Thai

land

Sene

gal

Hon

g Ko

ngP

akis

tan

Sout

h A

frica

Ban

glad

esh

Hon

g Ko

ngH

ong

Kong

Unite

d Ki

ngdo

mM

aldi

ves

Mal

dive

s

Table 3: Ramadan Travel Report Results - Non-OIC Highlights

*Col

ored

cel

ls re

pres

ent v

ario

us n

on-O

IC d

estin

atio

ns.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18


Table 4 plots the scores for the top 20 ranked destinations in Ramadan for Muslim travelers from2016 to 2030.

The scores for all destinations are generally expected to increase from 2016 to 2030. This means that Muslims traveling in the month of Ramadan will have a better quality experience in Muslim friendly destinations as the year progresses towards 2030.

2023-2030: Best Years to Spend Ramadan in Muslim Friendly Destinations

What can Muslim travelers in Ramadan look forward to?

Muslim travelers who wish to experience Ramadan in the top destinations in the future can expect a more pleasant experience with the weather in these destinations expected to be cooler and fasting duration expected to be shorter.

Destinations can seize this opportunity by promoting themselves as go-to destinations for upcoming Ramadan years. This can be coupled with efforts to increase the quality of Muslim friendly travel services in these regions.

1

65676971737577798183

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Score

Year

12

34

56

78

910

1112

1314

1516

1718

1920

Rank

ing:

Table 4: Scores of Top 20 Destinations in Ramadan from 2016 to 2030

1

Ran

k2

016

20

172

018

20

192

02

02

02

12

02

22

02

32

02

42

02

52

02

62

02

72

02

82

02

92

03

0

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Mal

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Rank

ing

of C

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To cater to Muslim travelers during the month of Ramadan, a few key services and facilities need to be available across all major travel segments including airports, airlines, hotels and destinations. Providing these services will increase the appeal of the brand to Muslim travelers immensely without affecting the overall characteristic of the airlines or hotel, nor will it be costly to implement.

Catering to the Needs of Muslim Travelers in Ramadan

To make it easier to implement Ramadan initiatives, it would be helpful if staff at hotels, airlines and airports were aware of the basics of Ramadan. They can then understand the specific practices that Muslims may engage in during fasting. For example, while fasting, Muslim passengers will be more active in reciting/listening to the Qur'an and performing prayers.

General Ramadan Awareness

Ramadan Awareness of Staff

The time of fasting period begins (dawn) and ends (dusk), on any given day, is calculated very preciselybased on the time of sunrise and sunset. These times vary, depending mainly, on the geographicallocation and the day of the year. The time to commence fasting coincides with the time of the first of thefive daily prayers a Muslim has to perform, referred to as Fajr prayers. The conclusion of the fastingperiod of the day corresponds with the 4th of the five daily prayers, called Maghrib. The timings of thefive daily prayers and prayer direction for any given location can be found on HalalTrip.com or its mobileApp.

The Timing and Definitions of Dawn and Dusk (In the Islamic Sense)

The morning meal taken before the beginning of the fasting period (Suhour) and the meal taken at thebreaking of a fast when the fasting period ends (Iftar) are important meals for the Muslim. As dates andwater are generally consumed to break fast during Ramadan, it will be a good gesture to offer dates and water to Muslim travelers during the month of fasting.


Praying five times a day is also one of the obligatory pillars of Islam. A Muslim will be much moreconscious of this obligation during the month of Ramadan and as such, providing information, servicesand facilities to perform prayers will make it even more comfortable. While traveling, some Muslimsmay combine the five daily prayers to only three times a day.

Five Daily Prayers

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Muslims may be present at the airports during the time of breaking fast. As such, airports can take some simple steps to cater to the needs Muslim travelers.

Airports

If the airport has a prayer room it will be a good gesture to provide dates and water.Dates and Bottled Water at the Prayer Room

Airports can facilitate the Muslim traveler by providing information on the prayer schedule for the location. This schedule can be placed in the special prayer rooms if available or made available at the airport information counter.

Prayer Schedule for Ramadan

It will be good to have Halal food outlets in both public and transit areas. If they are generally notavailable, then having some Halal food available at least temporarily during the month of Ramadan willbe helpful.

Halal Food Outlets

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There are two possible non-intrusive ways of getting to know if a passenger is observing fasting:Getting to Know if a Passenger is Observing the Ramadan Fast

These timings can be obtained for the flight using HalalTrip's In-flight prayer time calculator. It is available both on the HalalTrip.com website as well as on the mobile application for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Know the Suhour and Iftar Timings

If the vast majority of the passengers in the plane are Muslims, it may be helpful to announce when the Suhour and Iftar times are near and will occur. Some airlines from Muslim majority countries are already accustomed with this practice. Alternatively, the crew could inform fasting passengers individually when the Suhour and Iftar times occur.

Announce the Suhour and Iftar Timings

Once the crew is aware that a passenger is fasting, it is best to do the following: Serve Muslim Passengers Food at a Convenient Time

Airlines which are equipped with the understanding and the ability to cater to Muslim passengers who are fasting will greatly enhance their customers' satisfaction.

Airlines

Capture that information when the customer is making the booking online.Obtain the information while the passenger is checking in at the check-in counter. If someone has requested a Muslim meal, the check-in counter staff can ask if the passenger is fasting and pass on that information to the on-board crew

Place a sticker on the seat so that the rest of the crew is aware that he/she is fasting.If the Suhour and Iftar times are not inconvenient times to serve meals, then it is best to serve the passenger at those times.If possible, at the time of breaking fast (Iftar), offer dates and a bottle of water before serving food.

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Muslim travelers will require some specific services and facilities at Hotels to make their stay acomfortable one during the month of Ramadan.

If it is not possible to do any of the above, then the guests should at least be provided with a list of nearby restaurants that do serve Halal meals. However this may not be a practical solution for Suhour meals since it may be difficult for guests to travel to a restaurant at such a time.

Many hotels with sizable Muslim guests offer buffets for Iftar during Ramadan (Ramadan buffet), and some offer buffets for Suhour as well. If there is no Suhour buffet, Muslim guests could be provided an option which allows them to order room service during the time of Suhour. Hotels must also take greater care when it comes to providing room service for Suhour. The meals must be prepared and delivered on time otherwise it will prove difficult for your guests to fast appropriately.

It will be a good gesture to offer dates and water to Muslim hotel guests and visitors during the month of fasting.

Hotels


If a hotel has a Halal-certified kitchen or restaurant, then serving Iftar and Suhour becomes very easy. If a hotel currently does not have a Halal-certified or Halal-assured restaurant or kitchen, then the following options can be considered:

Halal Meals

Providing information, services and facilities to perform prayers will make the hotel guests feel morecomfortable. This requires the hotel to consider providing the following:

Prayer Facilities

Convert one of the hotel’s kitchens to a Halal-assured kitchen temporarily during the month of Ramadan.Consider outsourcing Iftar and Suhour meals for the month. Basics include dates, a drink, rice porridge and (halal) snacks.

Placing of a prayer time table in the rooms. Having prayer mats that are placed in the rooms or provided upon request.Having female prayer dresses available for those who may need them.

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The following services could be considered for guests who are keen on performing the additional congregational prayer called the Taraweeh prayer which occurs after the Isha’a prayers:

Taraweeh Prayers

The end of the fasting month (Ramadan) is celebrated on the 1st day of the month of Shawwaal. This festival is called Eid-ul-Fitr. Most Muslims will greet each other with the words “Eid Mubarak” on this day, which is a traditional greeting that translates to “may you enjoy a blessed festival”. The greetings used may vary from country to country. The day will start with a congregational prayer at a mosque; the timings of these prayers will vary from place to place, but it is generally always in the early morning. This information can be obtained from the local mosque in advance to notify the Muslim guests. It will be a good gesture to consider providing transport for the guests to a nearby mosque for this prayer.

Eid-ul-Fitr and Prayers

Provide a prayer room in the hotel with space for both males and females. Make sure to identify theprayer direction (Qiblah) in the room. If the room is large enough to accommodate many, considerhaving the rows marked on the floor so that it may be easier for individuals to position themselves forprayer.Wudu, also known as ablution, is the cleansing ritual Muslims undergo before each prayer. This can bedone in the bathroom facilities of their hotel room, but it will be convenient if a restroom is availablenear the provided congregational prayer room.Identify the mosques in your surrounding area and compile a list of the mosques, their locations anddirections, and the language in which sermons are given. These lists can be provided to Muslim guestsof the hotel. HalalTrip.com and also its mobile App can help locate nearby Mosques in most locations.Find a mosque near your hotel that offers sermons in English, Arabic and other languages andconsider providing transportation from the hotel to the mosque during the specific Taraweeh prayertimes.

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In addition to the analysis of 50 countries, the MasterCard-CrescentRating Ramadan Report also conducted an interview with Mr Hajj Muhsin Sierra from Visit Al Andalus who represents one of the many Muslim travelers in Ramadan.

Below he shares his unique experience and reasons for travelling in Ramadan.

Interview

Can you share with us what was it like spending Ramadan in Spain as you weregrowing up?

CrescentRating:

As I was growing up in Spain, my fasting experience began during the winter period. This weather made it relatively easy to fast.

The situation in school was slightly challenging as I was surrounded by many friends who were not fasting.

However I cherished the times when I would be breaking fast and have iftar in the afternoons with my Muslim friends. These moments reminded me of how special Ramadan is.

Mr Hajj Muhsin:

We understand that you are spending Ramadan in Malaysia this year and not in Spain. Can you share with us the reasons for this change?

CrescentRating:

Initially in 2015, I was in Malaysia during Ramadan as part of my fisabilillah work to build a new mosque in Saville.

However I have since fallen in love with the way Ramadan is celebrated in Malaysia.

Mr Hajj Muhsin:

Hajj Muhsin Sierra

DirectorVisit Al Andaluswww.visit-alandalus.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------28


Do you see this becoming an increasing trend for other Muslims as well to travel in Ramadan?

CrescentRating:

Europe is now experiencing Ramadan during the summer season. This is the time when the fasting periods are longer than usual.

Most of the people are also having their holidays during this period. With about 50 million Muslims in Europe this means that many Muslims will travel. This is even more so in Ramadan with many Muslims travelling to different places. I find this trend to be on the rise.

In the city of Granada where I come from, there a lot of people who journey to the city to spend Ramadan with us despite the long fasting periods.

Some of them come from England which experiences a longer fasting period of about 1.5 hours more than Granada, and so they like to travel and move around during Ramadan in the summer.

Mr Hajj Muhsin:

Firstly, the fasting period is quite short in Malaysia. The weather is quite nice, and so is the food.

The people in Malaysia are also very warm, humble and friendly. Hence I’ve chosen Malaysia because I find that this destination contains many good qualities that I was trying to find in a Muslim country.

Mr Hajj Muhsin:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29


Data Sources

https://www.crescentrating.com/magazine

CrescentRating - Online Halal Lifestyle Magazine

https://www.halaltrip.com

HalalTrip

http://www.islamicfinder.org

Prayer Durations

http://vision2030.gov.sa/en

Saudi Vision 2030

https://www.crescentrating.com

MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2016

https://www.crescentrating.com/reports

Preparing your hotel for the month of Ramadan: 2nd edition

http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/home.html

Daytime Temperature Forecasts

MasterCard-CrescentRatingGlobal Muslim Travel Index 2016

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30


Corporate Overview

About MasterCardMasterCard is a technology company in the global payments industry. We are leading the way toward a world beyond cash with the power to expand connectivity, opportunity and prosperity for individuals, businesses and communities.

We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Our products and solutions make everyday commerce activities - such as shopping, traveling, running a business, and managing finances - easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Through our payment solutions, we deliver value and connect close to two billion cardholders with tens of millions of merchants around the world.

As we move toward a world beyond cash, we are helping to secure a better, more inclusive future for everyone. We are committed to continuing to use our technology and expertise to deliver better ways to pay, creating a more connected world.

About CrescentRatingCrescentRating is the world’s leading authority on Halal-friendly travel. The company’s vision is to lead, innovate and drive this segment through practical and deliverable solutions in what is regarded today as one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism sector. The company uses insight, industry intelligence, lifestyle, behavior and research on the needs of the Muslim traveler to deliver authoritative guidance on all aspects of Halal-friendly travel to organizations across the globe.

Formed in 2008, CrescentRating services are now used by every tier of the tourism industry globally, from government bodies and tourism agencies to hospitality service providers, to inform how they can meet and serve the needs of the Muslim traveler. Its unique rating service, which combines detailed analysis, assessment and benchmarking, is now established as the premier Halal friendly standard for the industry.

The primary aim of CrescentRating is to enable Muslim travelers to explore any part of the world with the satisfaction that their needs and requirements are being met. CrescentRating’s services now include rating & accreditation, research & consultancy, workshops & training, ranking & indices, event support/partnerships and content provision.HalalTrip is a sister brand of CrescentRating.

About HalalTripHalalTrip’s vision is to be the trusted global online platform, catering for Muslim travelers to make inspired and educated choices. It is the most comprehensive and innovative platform with its next generation mobile app. It makes destination discovery and trip planning fun and more intuitive for those looking for a Halal-friendly travel experience.

About Muslim Travel WarehouseIt the world's 1st global B2B travel aggregator offering Halal-friendly tourism packages, excursions and activities. It provides suppliers and travel agencies with a single platform for the growing Halal travel market. The travel agents will have access to comprehensive search and booking capabilities on a full portfolio of Muslim-friendly products.

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www.crescentrating.com

MasterCard-CrescentRatingRamadan Travel Report

2016

www.crescentrating.com/reports/halal-travel-glossary.html

The World’s First-ever Halal Travel Glossary



Download Reports


Ramadan Travel ReportBy MasterCard & CrescentRating

June 2016



March 2016

MasterCard-CrescentRatingMuslim Travel Shopping Index 2015


mtsi.crescentrating.com/mastercard-crescentrating-muslim-travel-shopping-index-2015-mtsi2015.html

MasterCard-CrescentRating Muslim Travel Shopping Index 2015

gmti.crescentrating.com/mastercard-crescentrating-global-muslim-travel-index-2015-gmti2015.html


www.crescentrating.com/reports/mastercard-crescentrating-global-muslim-travel-index-gmti-2016.html

The 2nd release of the annual report, GMTI 2016 is the most comprehensive research done on the Halal/Muslim travel, tourism and hospitality market. A collaboration between MasterCard and CrescentRating, it analyses 130 destinations across the globe to create an Index to benchmark destinations in the Muslim Travel Market.

The MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2015 is the first comprehensive research on the Muslim travel market and uses in-depth data to explain how Muslim travel is impacting the worldwide travel market.

The Muslim Travel Shopping Index 2015 contains a detailed analysis of the best shopping destinations for Muslim travellers, while providing a fascinating look at the behavioural trends and patterns of Muslim shoppers.

CrescentRating, the world’s leading authority on Halal travel, has published this new guide which promotes accurate and consistent use of terms in the Halal travel market. Over 150 terms and concepts have been entered and validated with regular updates planned as the market matures.


FIRST EDITIONAugust 2015

ByCrescentRating

BASIC CONCEPTS, TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

The World's Leading Authority on Halal Travel Connecting you to the Muslim Traveller

MUSLIM / HALALTRAVEL MARKETMUSLIM / HALALTRAVEL MARKET

BASIC CONCEPTS, TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

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Any exploitation and usage which is not explicitly allowed by copyright law, in particular reproduction, translation, storage in electronic database, on the internet and copying onto CD-ROMs of this print work requires prior consent of the publisher.

All information contained in this publication has been researched and compiled from sources believed to be accurate and reliable at the time of publishing. However, in view of the natural scope for human and/or mechanical error, either at source or during production, CrescentRating and MasterCard accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage resulting from errors, inaccuracies or omissions affecting any part of the publication. All information is provided without warranty, CrescentRating and MasterCard or their affiliates make no representation of warranty of any kind as to the accuracy or completeness of any information hereto contained. Descriptions of, or references to products, publications, organizations or individuals within this publication does not imply endorsement of any product or publication, organization or individual.

Disclaimer & Copyright Notices

CrescentRating Pte. Ltd.1003 Bukit Merah Central#07–14, Inno.CentreSingapore 159836

T: +65 6255 2896E: [email protected]: www.crescentrating.com

MasterCard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd152 Beach Road #35-00The Gateway EastSingapore 189721

T: +65 6390 5971E: [email protected]: www.masterintelligence.com

Presented ByMasterCard & CrescentRating

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