News From : DagangHalal.com (24 Mar 2009)
MELAKA, March 16 (Bernama) — The Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), which was launched here Monday, is Malaysia’s specific initiative to encourage tourist arrivals from Muslim nations and Muslim communities abroad, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said the centre was also in line with the government’s wish to make Malaysia a major global tourism destination.
“Islamic tourism is expanding and a niche market which is growing in importance,” she said at the launching of the ITC at the Al-Azim Mosque in Bukit Palah by Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob. ITC is previously known as the Commonwealth Tourism Centre based in Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur. The cabinet, however, decided that the centre be turned into an ITC following requests by many Muslim nations which wanted Malaysia to share its tourism experience. Azalina said Islamic tourism covered numerous aspects, including those related to the economy and arts.
“In terms of the economy, the Islamic tourism aims to expand tourism within the Muslim world, develop new tourist destinations and strengthen cooperation between governments and institutions in Muslim countries,” she said. On arts, she said, the Islamic tourism would focus on tourism programmes and events, which are acceptable to Islam. It would also cover tour of Islamic heritage sites, she added. Quoting statistics from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), she said there were 1.5 billion Muslims in the world or about 20 per cent of global population.
“From that figure, we can see the huge potential Islamic tourism has to offer. Efforts should therefore be geared towards tapping into this market,” she said. – BERNAMA