Bahraini Miss Universe Loujain Yaqoob and Pakistani Erica Rubin have joined the campaign to promote halal tourism in the Philippines, as Manila seeks to attract more visitors from the Middle East and Muslim-majority countries. To achieve its tourism goals this year.
Tourism contributed about 13% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product, but this share decreased to about 5% in the years 2020 and 2021, when the global travel industry stopped due to the pandemic, with Manila positioning itself as a Muslim-friendly destination. As part of a strategy to revive the tourism sector. The Miss Universe from Bahrain and Pakistan is part of the latest move to support the promotion of halal tourism in the Philippines.
Tourism Undersecretary Mira Paz Valderosa Abu Bakr told Arab News: “The Ministry of Tourism benefits from the presence of Miss Universe from Bahrain and Pakistan to help and assist in promoting halal and Muslim-friendly tourism in the Philippines,” and said that Miss Universe’s trip to the Philippines will be “a boost.” “This is a great project for the country that we hope will influence the global Muslim community to visit the archipelago, which is home to white sandy beaches, famous diving spots, lively entertainment, diverse cultural heritage and distinctive wildlife.
With the value of the Islamic travel market expected to reach $225 billion by 2028, the Philippine government announced in 2022 that increasing foreign arrivals from the Middle East and Muslim-majority countries was among its priority goals. Official data showed that the Philippines is on track to achieve its goal of receiving 4.8 million foreign arrivals this year and has already received more than 4 million visitors so far.
Earlier this year, the Philippines won the Muslim-Friendly Emerging Destination Award during the World Halal Travel Summit; In recognition of its efforts to attract global Muslim travelers. This effort continues with the recent collaboration between the Department of Tourism, The Farm Resort and Xpedition Middle East magazine, which seeks to promote halal and healthy tourism in the Philippines. Miss Universe Bahrain Loujain Yaqoob and Miss Universe Pakistan Erica Rubin have arrived in Manila and will be in the country as part of their training for Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador in November.
While in the Philippines, they are set to show off the beauty of the country to the global Muslim community, and Loujain emphasized that “what the Philippines really has is this amazing diversity in wanting to be welcoming in so many different places and even Muslim countries.” It’s an amazing place, and I encourage anyone from Bahrain to come and visit the Philippines. “It’s a wonderful country, with beaches, diving spots and a rich, rich culture. It has great hospitality and is very welcoming.”
“It is an honor to help promote the Philippines,” Robin said. It’s been less than 24 hours and the Philippines already feels like home.. and we still have.. There is so much to explore, so much to learn, so much to share with the world what the Philippines has to offer, and I feel proud and blessed to be promoting something that should be out there for people to know. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show the brighter side of your country, which I am sure every Muslim would like to know.”
Al-Bilad newspaper alerts various profitable electronic news platforms to the need to be careful, as stipulated in the law concerned with protecting intellectual property rights, regarding the illegality of transferring or quoting the content of this journalistic material, even if the source is indicated.
