A woman walks in front of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. - AFP
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Brunei Darussalam jumped to the ninth place in the Mastercard-Crescentrating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024 report released on Thursday with a score of 66 sharing the spot with Oman and Singapore.
The Sultanate jumped six spots compared to last year (2023) with improved scores in general safety (92), halal dining (90), no faith restrictions, prayer places and airport (all with the score of 100 each).
As for Muslim women-friendly destinations, Brunei came in fourth spot after Malaysia, Indonesia and Qatar with a score of 79.
The GMTI for 2024 revealed a significant improvement in the accommodation of Muslim travellers with the average score of the destinations increasing by almost 10 per cent.
This indicates that more destinations are becoming increasingly Muslim-friendly. Additionally, the average score of the top 20 destinations has risen by more than three per cent, reflecting a focused effort on the part of these destinations to cater to the needs of Muslim tourists.
Both Indonesia and Malaysia retain their joint top position with a score of 76, each showing an improvement of three points from 2023.
Their consistent focus on enhancing Muslim-friendly travel facilities, including widespread availability of halal food, extensive prayer facilities and dedicated tourism services, has maintained their leadership in the index.
Saudi Arabia remains a strong contender with a score of 74, improving by two points.
The destination continues to benefit from its significant religious tourism due to haj and umrah pilgrimages and is increasingly diversifying its tourism offerings.
Türkiye moves up one position with a score increase to 73, due to its robust infrastructure for Muslim travellers and rich cultural heritage that appeals to this segment. –Borneo Bulletin/ANN
