Lack of halal progress affecting tourism – DTI

The lack of progress in the halal industry in the Philippines has prevented the country from tapping the industry’s potential to expand the trade and tourism sectors, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

Lopez said halal is “the next wave” and other countries are starting to take advantage of this huge untapped market with an estimated value of $3 trillion globally.

“Halal needs awareness so that it will grow and there will be more investments, and also, so we can export,” he said.

“Even tourism is a big untapped area for the halal market. Tourists say they can’t find halal-certified restaurants and resorts here, so Muslims from other countries are hesitant to go here. So only if we do have those types of resorts and restaurants, then we should see more tourists,” Lopez said.

Halal is used in relation to food and other consumer goods that have undergone certification as permissible for consumption and use by Muslims.

Lopez, who came from a recent trip to Singapore, said the halal industry is already huge in the ASEAN member country.

He said there are grocery chains there that carries all halal products but even the non-Muslims go in those stores.

“Singapore also has about 11 percent Muslim, which is similar with us as we have a 10 percent Muslim population,” Lopez said.