Phil. Halal Tourism Expo opens today

By Cheneen R. Capon
More than 200 participants from different sectors of the country’s tourism industry will grace in the opening of the three-day Philippine Halal Tourism Expo 2016 today at the Abreeza Mall
Organized by the Universal Center in partnership with the Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., the expo is part of the Department of Tourism (DOT) campaign under Philippine Halal Tourism Project and Crescent rating program.
The gab is expected to end on Sunday.
Malou Ampuan, secretary of the MICCII, said the event is designed to increase the level of awareness on the principles and concepts of halal and improve Davao Region’s position in the halal tourism through alignment of local programs to the direction of the national government.
During the expo, a total of 53 food and accommodation establishments, which are aiming to be Halal certified, will be showcased.
These 53 businesses are targeted by the DOT and Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc. to be certified, Ampuan said.
For Davao Region, a total of 13 hotels and restaurants from Davao City will be Halal certified. Among these establishments include hotel chains Marco Polo Davao, Seda Hotel, Grand Regal Hotel, and Park Inn by Radissons- Davao.
Certifiers will also give Halal certifications to 20 other establishments from Manila, 10 establishments from Cebu and other 10 from Boracay.
The certification of these establishments is in line with the Mindanao launched Philippine Halal Tourism Project of the tourism agency. The project aims to put the country on the Muslim travel index of Singaporean-based CrescentRating.
CrescentRating is the world’s leading authority on halal-friendly travel since 2008.
Ampuan said the halal certification of these establishments will also become one of the criteria on the assessment on the readiness of the country to accommodate Muslim tourists by CrescentRating.
The rating is based on the suitability of an establishment as holiday destination, family friendliness, safety with combined percent weight of 40 percent, Muslim friendly services and facilities availability (40 percent) and halal awareness and reach out to Muslims (20 percent).
The expo will likewise gather Halal certifiers, suppliers, and establishments. “It will be a meeting point of Halal buyers and suppliers,” she added.
The expo will be also a venue to showcase Muslim-friendly destinations in Mindanao, particularly Davao, and in the Philippines.
Ampuan said four airline companies, namely, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Asia and V- Air were invited to showcase their routes.