The latest Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024 emphasizes the evolving demographics of the travel sector, particularly the rising significance of female and young travellers under 40, as well as the key factors driving the sector's growth.
(Image Source)
GLOThe latest Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024 emphasizes the evolving demographics of the travel sector, particularly the rising significance of female and young travellers under 40, as well as the key factors driving the sector’s growth.
Aisha Islam, Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions Center, South-east Asia, Mastercard Asia-Pacific, noted that the 2024 index reveals a “breaking of boundaries with increasing value and volume.”
The GMTI report projects that the Muslim travel market will reach 230 million arrivals and contribute US$225 billion by 2028. At the Halal in Travel Global Summit (HiTGS), Islam highlighted the impact of 436 million global female travellers on travel planning. These women are “digitally connected, seeking personalized experiences and cashless transactions,” with artificial intelligence enhancing their travel personalization.
The GMTI’s Muslim Women Friendly Destination matrix, which debuted last year with 10 destinations from both OIC and non-OIC countries, has expanded to 20 in the 2024 index. The top OIC destinations are Malaysia, Indonesia, and Qatar, while Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan lead the non-OIC category.
Islam also emphasized that young travellers are “dynamic, tech-savvy, and socially active.” CrescentRating CEO Fazal Bahardeen added that 70 percent of the Muslim population under 40 are digital natives.
New metrics on “accessible travel,” which assess facilities and services for travellers with disabilities, were also introduced in GMTI 2024. Bahardeen shared UN and UNWTO data indicating that over one billion people (15 percent of the global population) live with some form of disability. However, only nine percent of global tourism destinations offer accessibility solutions for travellers with specific needs. By 2050, two billion people (over 20 percent of the world’s population) will be 60 or older, with a significant increase in the oldest age groups.
The GMTI report indicates that the Muslim travel market achieved a milestone of 168 million arrivals in 2024, a five percent increase from 2019. It is projected to reach 230 million arrivals and contribute US$225 billion by 2028. Indonesia and Malaysia jointly topped the OIC destinations, while Singapore has led non-OIC destinations for nine consecutive years.
Additionally, Singapore was named the Most Diversified Halal Dining City of the Year, offering around 3,000 Halal F&B outlets certified by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), along with an increase in fine-dining options for sophisticated Muslim travellers.
The HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards, launched by HalalTrip and the Singapore Halal Culinary Federation, will hold its first ceremony on June 5, 2024, at Village Hotel Bugis, with Minister of State Muhammad Faisal Ibrahim as the guest of honor.
The GMTI, now in its ninth year, analyzed data from 145 destinations using the ACES framework, which focuses on access, communication, environment, and services.
About GMTI: The GMTI, a joint initiative by CrescentRating and Mastercard, is the definitive benchmark for destinations seeking to attract and cater to Muslim travelers. Our mission is to provide comprehensive, data-driven insights that empower destinations, travel service providers, and stakeholders to enhance their offerings for the growing Muslim travel segment.
The Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) evaluates destinations on their overall performance in providing Muslim-friendly travel services. It covers a range of criteria including access, communication, environment, and services, collectively known as the ACES framework. This detailed evaluation helps destinations identify their strengths and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing the travel experience for Muslim tourists. ACES Framework: The ACES framework stands for Access, Communication, Environment, and Services.
This comprehensive evaluation covers: Access: Evaluates air connectivity, visa requirements, and transportation infrastructure. Communication: Assesses language proficiency, destination marketing, and stakeholder awareness. Environment: Examines the safety, faith restrictions, and sustainability of destinations. Services: Focuses on the availability of halal food, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly hotels.
(Image Source)
“It is encouraging to see that the travel sectors in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore not only maintained their rankings in this year’s GMTI, but also improved their individual scores. This reflects a broader trend of increased consideration for Muslim travellers, with average scores across the Index rising by 10%,” said CrescentRating Founder & CEO Fazal Bahardeen. “It is also positive to see the Philippines continue to improve its score, which demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Department of Tourism to bolstering Muslim-friendly tourism and advancing the destination’s appeal. As Muslim travel continues to gain momentum, the GMTI 2024 report provides invaluable insights for stakeholders across the travel and tourism sector to leverage the growing Muslim travel market.”
Mastercard Division President, Southeast Asia Safdar Khan said: “According to the latest report from the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI), travellers from and to Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly focused on getting the best value from their trips to ensure the most unforgettable experiences, a shift echoed in the rapidly growing global Halal tourism industry. At the same time, technology is helping this demographic travel in ways that meet their unique needs, from AI-powered hyper-personalised experiences to Mastercard’s enablement of easy and secure cross-border payments. Together, this heralds a new level of convenience for Muslim travellers and unlocks a new era of growth and profitability for travel operators. Mastercard’s long-running collaboration with CrescentRating is both a testament to the strength of the partnership and the ongoing importance of understanding and serving Muslim travellers.”
Download the GMTI 2024 report here: https://www.crescentrating.com/halal-muslim-travel-market-reports.htm
About GMTI: The GMTI, a joint initiative by CrescentRating and Mastercard, is the definitive benchmark for destinations seeking to attract and cater to Muslim travelers. Our mission is to provide comprehensive, data-driven insights that empower destinations, travel service providers, and stakeholders to enhance their offerings for the growing Muslim travel segment.
The Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) evaluates destinations on their overall performance in providing Muslim-friendly travel services. It covers a range of criteria including access, communication, environment, and services, collectively known as the ACES framework. This detailed evaluation helps destinations identify their strengths and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing the travel experience for Muslim tourists. ACES Framework: The ACES framework stands for Access, Communication, Environment, and Services.
This comprehensive evaluation covers: Access: Evaluates air connectivity, visa requirements, and transportation infrastructure. Communication: Assesses language proficiency, destination marketing, and stakeholder awareness. Environment: Examines the safety, faith restrictions, and sustainability of destinations. Services: Focuses on the availability of halal food, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly hotels.
Disclaimer: Press release
© Press Release 2025
Send us your press releases to news@globalloyalty.org
Press releases originate from external third-party providers. This website does not have responsibility or control over its content, which is presented as is, without any alterations. Neither this website nor its affiliates guarantee the accuracy of the views or opinions expressed in the press release.
The press release is intended solely for informational purposes and does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice, nor does it express any opinion regarding the suitability, value, or profitability of specific securities, portfolios, or investment strategies. Neither this website nor its affiliates are liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, nor for any actions taken based on it. By using the information provided in this article, you agree to do so at your own risk.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers, and licensors shall not be liable to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to lost profits, savings, and revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract, or any other theory of liability, even if the possibility of such damages was known or foreseeable.
The images used in press releases and articles provided by 3rd party sources belong to the respective source provider and are used for illustrative purposes in accordance with the original press releases and publications.
Disclaimer: Content
While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date content, Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the correctness accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or reliability of the information or the results derived from its use, not that the content will meet your requirements or expectations. The content is provided “as is” and “as available”. You agree that your use of the content is at your own risk. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. disclaims all warranties related to the content, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for any interruptions. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so these jurisdictions may not apply to you. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. Reserves the right to modify, interrupt, or discontinue the content without notice and is not liable for doing so.
Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. shall not be liable for any damages, including special, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages, or damages for lost profits, revenue, or use, arising out of or related to the content, whether in contract, negligence, tort, statute, equity, law, or otherwise, even if advised of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on liability for incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you. These disclaimers and limitations apply to Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and its parent, affiliates, related companies, contractors, sponsors, and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, agents, content providers, licensors, and advisors.
The content and its compilation, created by Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd, are the property of Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and cannot be reproduced without prior written permission.
