The massive potential of global Muslim travellers visiting Indonesia makes halal tourism a key driver of Indonesia's halal industry. In 2018, around 140 million international Muslim travellers visited Indonesia spending online a total of USD35 billion, with 158 million travellers projected for 2020. In addition, Indonesia and Malaysia topped the best global halal travel destinations in 2019. That was the key message from BI Deputy Governor Dody Budi Waluyo at the Halal Tourism Summit entitled "The Future of Halal Tourism: Better and Sustainable as an Implementation of the Rahmatan Lil Alamiin Concept” as part of the ISEF 2019 activities today (15/11) in Jakarta.

Halal tourism development is in line with current government commitment to position tourism as a key accelerator of economic growth in Indonesia, as stated by Anang Sutono, expert staff of the Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy, Ministry of Tourism. To that end, the Government, in conjunction with Bank Indonesia and other relevant stakeholders, has compiled a development strategy for Indonesia's flourishing halal tourism industry.

In terms of halal tourism development, an important paradigm that must be understood is that halal tourism is not trying to alienate Muslim travellers from conventional tourist activities or to exclude non-Muslim travellers from certain travel destinations. Halal tourism development aims to provide greater convenience for Muslim travellers to carry out their religious duties while travelling. For non-Muslims, halal tourism is expected to provide safe and sound travel services, while introducing Muslim teachings as universal values.

The Indonesia Halal Tourism Summit is expected to increase exposure to halal tourism in Indonesia for consumers and business players to create business partnerships towards the further development of halal tourism in Indonesia.