Kemenparekraf is making various efforts to advance tourism in Indonesia. One of the efforts is to encourage Muslim-friendly tourism to attract domestic and foreign Muslim tourists. LPPOM is also present to promote this with a halal certification facilitation program for MSMEs in Super Priority Regions (DSP).
Halal tourism is Muslim-friendly tourism, providing additional services or extended services to meet the needs of Muslim tourists. This was conveyed by the Expert Staff for Business Development, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), Masruroh, S.Sos., MAB, at the LPPOM 1445 H Syawal Festival on May 8, 2024 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Masruroh explained that halal tourism is very good for attracting Muslim tourists because it provides various facilities that make it easier for Muslims, such as halal-certified food and beverage products and worship facilities at tourist attractions. The halal certificate on food and beverage products is a guarantee of the halalness of a product. Of course, this is so the Muslim market can travel calmly and peacefully.
“This is a response to requests from Muslim tourists who want to carry out their worship without experiencing difficulties in finding services that are in accordance with their religious beliefs and principles,” explained Masruroh.
In addition to fulfilling compliance with religious rules, halal tourism can also increase and expand domestic and international markets. Thus, it can create opportunities and attract domestic and foreign Muslim tourists outside the current market. This also helps drive the local economy so that it can be a significant source of income for the creative economy tourism industry and local communities in destinations such as accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and local crafts.
To realize this, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has made efforts to improve the economic level of local communities through halal tourism in Indonesia to increase insight and literacy of Muslim-friendly tourism. One is activating a target of 3,000 halal-certified tourist villages from 6,000 villages registered through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy’s Jadesta program.
The socialization of the halal certification program to business actors in tourist villages is intended to increase literacy and awareness about the importance of halal certification to attract Muslim tourists to fulfill halal food and beverage products. With the increase in awareness, it is hoped that the level of participation of business actors in certifying halal food and beverage products will experience a significant increase in the halal tourism ecosystem in Indonesia.
On the same occasion, Masruroh also emphasized that halal tourism can encourage quality tourism, such as universal halal values for everyone, and encourage sustainable tourism. This halal tourism can make Super Priority Destinations (DSP) such as Labuan Bajo a Muslim-friendly tourist destination.
To advance Muslim-friendly tourist destinations, LPPOM also helps facilitate halal certification in the Syawal Festival program. This year, LPPOM has facilitated halal certification for 744 MSME actors, of which 125 MSMEs were facilitated independently by LPPOM. Of the 125 MSMEs, 85 come from 5 Super Priority Destinations (DSP). There are 42 MSMEs in Labuan Bajo, 10 MSMEs in the Lake Toba area, 8 MSMEs in the Borobudur area, 6 MSMEs in the Likupang area, and 20 MSMEs in the Mandalika area. A total of 40 others are spread across various provinces in Indonesia.
The President Director of LPPOM, Ir. Muti Arintawati, M.Si, said that the Syawal Festival organized by LPPOM is a form of LPPOM’s commitment and effort in supporting the Kemenparekraf program, especially in achieving Indonesia’s ideals as the world’s halal center, including making Indonesia a friendly tourist destination for Muslims around the world. Now, there is no need to worry about traveling to the Super Priority Destination (DSP) area. Because there are already many culinary areas that are halal-certified. You can also check out other halal culinary tours through the website www.halalmui.org, the Halal MUI application that can be downloaded on Playstore, and the BPJPH website. Other services, such as swab tests for food handlers, can also be accessed on the LPPOM MUI Lab website: https://e-halallab.com/ (ZUL)
