Newswrap: Islamic lifestyle
New York launches a halal travel guide; Philippines promotes Mindanao; UAE and Malaysia bolster medical tourism; 25 million visit Istanbul’s Grand Çamlıca Mosque; and Saudi Arabian Airlines launches business divisions, B2B travel solutions.
New York launches USA's first official halal travel guide
The official travel marketing bureau for New York, NYC & Company, has launched a Halal Travel Guide for guides and tourists. It is the first such guide released by a US tourism organisation, reported Breaking Travel News. Created in conjunction with Halal Trip/Crescent Rating, the guide highlights halal certified restaurants, Muslim history and art exhibitions, and tips and advice from Muslim travel experts. New York has more than 275 mosques spread across the five boroughs.
“We are proud to launch this all-new travel resource celebrating the incredibly rich and diverse Muslim travel experiences found in New York City,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO at NYC & Company. “The Muslim community has been an integral part of the fabric of our City for nearly 400 years and we are committed to showcasing the authentic Halal offerings and more found across the five boroughs.”
Philippines promotes Mindanao
Philippines’ tourism department has launched a promotional campaign, Colours of Mindanao, to highlight the cultural and touristic attractions of the Muslim-majority island in the south. The campaign also highlights Muslim-friendly tourism, reported the Sun Star. The colours campaign represents a tourism segment, “with blue for dive tourism, teal for sun and beach, green for ecotourism, brown for farm tourism, violet for culture and heritage, red for adventure and sports tourism, orange for food tourism and yellow for faith tourism.”
UAE and Malaysia bolster medical tourism
European Wellness Academie, the Malaysian subsidiary of European Wellness Biomedical Group, entered into a partnership with Dubai-based AK International, a healthcare distribution and technology firm, to bolster health tourism links, particularly in chronic degenerative conditions and untreatable rare diseases, reported Laing Busson.
The partnership is to developed a “technology-driven digital wellness service ‘corridor’, to seamlessly connect UAE patients with healthcare service providers in Malaysia,” while two centres of excellence will be established in the Emirates. The tie-up will also explore the potential development of a halal hub for biotechnology and regenerative medicine in the Iskandar Malaysia Development Area in Johor.
25 million visit Istanbul’s Grand Çamlıca Mosque
Istanbul’s Grand Mosque of Çamlıca, which opened three years ago, has attracted 25 million visitors, reported Daily Sabah. Construction started in 2013, with the mosque a combination of Seljuk and and Ottoman architecture. It houses the recently opened Museum of Islamic Civilisations, eight art workshops, an art gallery, a conference hall, and a library with 50,000 books. The museum opened at the beginning of Ramadan, and has attracted 150,000 people. It includes 800 pieces of Islamic art, and has 15 thematic sections.
Saudi Arabian Airlines launches business divisions, B2B travel solutions
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) launched the all-new rebranded business division for the airline, SAUDIA Business, specialising in B2B travel solutions for corporate, agency and MICE clients at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 in Dubai, according to a press release. SAUDIA Business provides unique solutions for each travel requirement for a diverse range of beneficiaries, including corporations, travel agencies, and event organisers. The new account management department will streamline the booking process and support corporate travel through a seamless online platform with multiple functions and tools to serve SAUDIA’s business clients from A to Z. SAUDIA Business will have a dedicated meetings and events team that assists with specific corporate travel needs and event organisation worldwide. The new division will serve and support clients with busy schedules who frequently go on business trips, whether for meetings, incentive travel, conventions, or exhibitions (MICE).
