Global travel trends revealed

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Have dog will travel: the global trends report released at WTM noted the demand for pet-friendly travel and tourism products.

The Middle East travel and tourism market is losing out by targeting non-Muslim and Muslim tourists in exactly the same way.

That was one of the key findings of the WTM Global Trends Report 2007 released on day one of World Travel Market (WTM), which was staged at ExCeL London from November 12-15.

The report, compiled by Euromonitor International, identified many global travel trends but where the Middle East was concerned, said there was potential for the region to make money from Halal tourism - a form of religious tourism defined as activities permissible under Islamic law, in terms of behaviour, dress, conduct and diet.

It is pitched at Muslim tourists and therefore differs from Islamic tourism where non-Muslims visit Muslim countries to learn about Islamic culture.

The report noted that inbound tourists to the Middle East would increase 66% to reach 55 million between 2006 and 2011 and that a large percentage would be intra-regional travellers, boosted by increased connectivity between cities.

In order to support this objective, a US $42 billion tourism development fund, set up by the Arab Tourism Organisation, will help finance tourism organisations.

"Tourism infrastructure clearly needs domestic development before international inbound tourism can occur," said the report. "Therefore it is crucial that Middle Eastern countries take concrete steps to develop Halal tourism internally."

It cited "one successful example" as the Dubai Ice Bar in Times Square, developed to Western concepts, yet suitable for Halal tourism as it does not serve alcohol.

A Halal airline?

The report also suggested that a Halal airline could be established, just as The Vatican had endorsed its own budget airline to transport pilgrims to holy sites.

"Such an airline could provide Halal food, calls for prayer, Korans in seat pockets, religious programmes on in-flight entertainment, and separate sections for male and female passengers," Euromonitor commented.

Women-only hotels could also prove their worth, overcoming the issue of Muslim women being unable to book hotel rooms without a male guarantor, such is the case in Saudi Arabia.

The report identified the opportunity to run Halal tours, taking into account prayer times and dietary requirements, and to cater better to large family groups.

Tour companies offering Hajj and Umrah tours were also advised to recommend that pilgrims extend their stay in the Kingdom post-pilgrimage - a Halal tourism add on.

"Key target groups (for pilgrimage packages) could also include religious tourists from outside the Middle East, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan," the report noted.

Euromonitor concluded its Halal tourism report by stressing that the sector represented "a promising niche for travel and tourism companies to investigate".

North Africa boom

The WTM Global Trends Report 2007 also identified Libya and Algeria as two up-and-coming tourist hotspots in the MENA region. It said both developing nations had the potential to share in the tourism boom that neighbouring countries such as Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia were enjoying, because they offer similar attractions.

"As tourism in Morocco booms, it begs the question as to why other North African countries of similar beauty and culture are not experiencing such growth," it said.

Euromonitor International suggested that by following a "sun, sea and sand" and cultural tourism strategy, countries such as Libya and Algeria can emulate the success of existing tourism hotspots."

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