Muslim shoppers flock to Asia-Pacific cities, survey shows

Tourists from the Middle East walk in Bukit Bintang, a shopping district in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian capital was recently ranked the No. 2 destination for Muslim travelers.

KUALA LUMPUR — Muslim tourists with an urge to shop flocked to the Asia-Pacific region last year, a new survey reveals. Globally, these travelers spent an estimated total of $62 billion on shopping and dining.

     Dubai topped the list of 40 destinations, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, according to the joint study by MasterCard and Crescent Rating, a Singapore-based Muslim travel research company. The survey, which looked into criteria including suitability for shopping and Muslim-friendly facilities, found the travelers shelled out $9.3 billion on shopping and $6.2 billion in the 40 cities.

    Out of the 40 cities, more than two-thirds were in the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. Except for London, which placed fourth, the top-10 list was comprised of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian destinations, underscoring the preference of Muslims to visit places where prayer rooms and halal food are easily accessible.

     Cities with negligible Muslim populations, such as Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo, were ranked 18th, 22nd and 27th, respectively.

     Over 70% of the travelers surveyed consider shopping very important, with souvenirs and local clothing brands cited as top purchases. Many prefer large malls rather than dedicated duty-free shops, and more than half of respondents said they set aside up to $1,000 for shopping.

     More than 95% of respondents said they consider halal dining — meals that conform to Islamic prohibitions on pork and alcohol — a critical factor when choosing a holiday destination. A large number of travelers said they prefer to dine at restaurants serving local cuisine, spending at least $10 per meal.

     According to the research, the global Muslim tourism market was valued at $145 billion in 2014, with 108 million travelers representing 10% of the entire travel economy. The figure is expected to grow to 150 million by 2020, spurring demand for accommodation, dining, shopping and related services.

 

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