Key insights and challenges
Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel, National President of Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) said obtaining MFAR certification was highlighted as a way for tourism businesses to demonstrate their Muslim-friendly credentials and attract more Muslim tourists. While some hotels may already cater to Muslim travellers, having an official accreditation can further boost confidence among potential guests. However, the cost of certification should be kept affordable to encourage wider adoption.
“We need to consider the cost first. It is important to provide guidance and simplify the certification process because our main mission and vision is to ensure that more tourism players obtain this certification to further promote Malaysia as a Muslim-friendly destination.”
When asked why tourism players need to apply for MFAR, he said: “Not everyone is well-equipped or fully educated about the needs of Muslim travellers. They need to be fully aware and educated on what Muslim travellers require. By taking these courses, they can gain a solid understanding, acquire good knowledge, and train their staff on what is permissible and what is not.”
Ganesh identified several challenges in the adoption of MFAR certification, including clearly defining what constitutes ‘Muslim-friendly’ for both tourism players and the general public, addressing concerns about potential misunderstandings of the term with ‘Shariah-compliant’ standards. He also noted the challenges of educating industry players on the requirements and keeping certification costs reasonable. He emphasised that the certification process should align with the broader goal of promoting Malaysia as a Muslim-friendly destination rather than being perceived as a revenue-generating exercise.
