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Thursday 06 Aug 2015 - 11:38 Makkah mean time-21-10-1436
(Image from Anadolu)
Istanbul, (IINA) - Catering to the growing global halal market needs, Turkey will launch its first Muslims-friendly cruise on the Aegean Sea next month for religiously observant travelers in the country, according to media reports.
Everything on board will be in accordance with Islamic religious values; segregated sports centers, single-sex spa facilities, separate Turkish baths and prayer rooms.
The country’s first halal cruise was announced by the Antalya-based Fusion Tour company on Tuesday as a new approach that aims at tapping into the $145 Billion worth global halal tourism sector.
Turkey’s first Muslim-friendly cruise themed ‘On the track of the Ottomans’ will leave a port in Turkey’s western Izmir province on September 27 and take passengers to the Greek islands of Rhodes and Crete as well as the port city of Piraeus by October 2.
“It will not be just a cruise which does not have alcohol or pork-related products. It will be a cultural and historical tour which promises an atmosphere of social networking,” says Kemal Gunay, Fusion Tour general manager.
Gokmen Aydinalp, tour project manager, claims organizers have thought of everything: “We don’t even have a painting on a wall of the ship which is against Islamic values,” he says.
Passengers who booked a spot on the cruise are glad to be part of what they describe as a “much-awaited” concept. “I believe it will be an atmosphere where I and my family will feel comfortable,” says 46-year-old Hamit Kutuk, a banker, who will be one of the passengers.
Announcing the halal cruise comes as the Muslim country is poised to host second annual European international Halal Tourism Conference (HTC2015), next December at the Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar Congress & Exhibition Center (ICEC), in the heart of the Congress Valley.
Over 1,000 delegates from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the three-day event, which is sponsored by CM Media in partnership with Tura Turizm.
The Muslim tourism market accounts for about 13 percent of the global travel market and estimated to worth $145 billion in 2014. It is expected to climb to $200 billion by 2020.
A recent study released by Singapore-based halal travel specialist Crescentrating and DinarStandard has expected influx of Muslim holidaymakers over the next decade.
The study, conducted in 47 countries, found that spending by Muslim tourists is growing faster than the global rate and is forecast to reach $192 billion a year by 2020, up from $126 billion in 2011.
SM/IINA
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