Waikato Management School will host the 4th Halal Tourism and Hospitality Symposium in Hamilton on 21 November.

Worldwide, the halal tourism market is expected to be worth US$238 billion by 2019.1

This free one-day event provides an opportunity for participants to discuss collaborative plans for tapping into the growing halal tourism market from the Middle East, Malaysia, Indonesia and other regions.

It aims to help participants understand how best to promote New Zealand as a ‘halal friendly’ destination of choice for Muslim holidaymakers and business travelers.

We also need a better understanding of what halal travellers require, and what the barriers are to offering our visitors the best possible experience.

We look forward to a diverse set of participants representing the travel, tourism and hospitality business sectors, as well as government officials and academics from all over New Zealand.

Most Muslim travelers currently favour Europe and the UK for their family holidays. But New Zealand could market itself as the next exciting hotspot on their itinerary.

To achieve this goal, we need to make it easier for our guests to comply with Islamic religious beliefs and practices during their stay, and ensure they feel comfortable and secure in our country.

1 State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2016/17

4th Halal Tourism and Hospitality SymposiumWednesday, 21 November 2018

Hamilton, New Zealand

Key themes of the symposium

The symposium will cover three broad themes:

• Halal tourism and hospitality: opportunities and challenges for New Zealand.

• Stakeholders of halal tourism and hospitality: their role and contribution.

• New Zealand’s preparedness to be a favourite halal tourism destination: where we are? What we can do?

These are the specific questions we wish to address during the day:

1. What is the level of awareness about halal tourism in New Zealand? Why is it so?

2. What can be done to enhance understanding of halal tourism and related business opportunities for tourism and hospitality industries in New Zealand?

3. What are the challenges associated in promoting halal tourism in New Zealand?

4. Are halal tourism stakeholders different to mainstream tourism stakeholders? Why or why not is this the case, and what are the implications?

5. What might be the perceptions about halal tourism among these stakeholders?

6. How could these stakeholders be brought together in an effective manner?

7. How is New Zealand perceived as a halal tourism destination and why?

8. What can be done to enhance New Zealand’s image as a halal tourism destination? And how?

9. Could halal meat exports be leveraged towards halal tourism? What can be done?

After the symposium:

Every participant will receive an electronic report summarising the feedback received on the themes of the day. It is hoped that this will not only reflect opinions, but also identify potential ways forward to access this growing market.

How to register:

Date: Wednesday, 21 November 2018Time: 8.30am – 5pmVenue: Novotel Tainui Hotel, 7 Alma Street, HamiltonAdmission: Free

If you wish to attend, please register online by Monday, 15 October at 12 noon.

www.management.ac.nz/halaltourism

Our sponsors

Major sponsor: The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand Inc. (FIANZ)

Tourism New Zealand

Waikato Muslim Association Inc.

Waikato Management School

Tourism Industry Aotearoa

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism