Getting to grips with halal-friendly travel

Swimwear policies should be front of mind for agents when booking a halal-friendly hotel, says Suleman.

“Last year, a travel company catering to Muslims had a hotel on its website that didn’t inform customers that its swimwear policy had changed,” she says. “Women could no longer wear ‘burkini’ swimming costumes. I was going to book a stay there with a friend, only to discover neither of us would be able to swim.”

While Turkey, Morocco and Dubai are popular destinations for Muslims due to their halal cuisine, Suleman says agents shouldn’t be put off recommending countries where halal food is not readily available.

“All fish is halal as long as there isn’t white wine sauce in it. Vegetarian options are halal too. Muslim people love to travel, and as long as these options are available, they should be fine.”

The Ramadan festival, which this year takes place from 23 April to 23 May, sees many Muslims travel to sites of religious significance in the Middle East – a time when agents could potentially boost their bookings.

“Often, local Ramadan radio stations in the UK will have a travel show,” says Suleman. “These provide great insight into the festival and what people consider when travelling,” she advises.

Ultimately, agents should simply treat Muslim clients like any other, asking plenty of questions to drill down into the specifics, Suleman concludes.

“By doing this, you will find them a holiday they want, and not what you think they want because they are Muslim,” she advises. “Facebook groups are a great resource for checking which properties and destinations are halal-friendly, and several hotels are catching on and creating their own groups too.”