The Potential of Halal Tourism in Ethiopia: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects

Year 2018, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 13 - 22, 30.06.2018

Mohammed Jemal Ahmed , Atilla Akbaba

https://doi.org/10.30625/ijctr.397499

Cited By: 7

Abstract

Recently, Halal
tourism has been emerging as lucrative tourism niche both in Muslim and
non-Muslim Countries’ destinations. For a long time, tourism industry had been exclusive
against Muslims for it was fenced by the so called “Haram” activities. However,
nowadays, this problem is being solved through Halal tourism so that more
Muslims are engaging in tourism without sacrificing their religion. Countries such as Malaysia,
Turkey, Indonesia and Singapore have already entered into Halal tourism. Though
Halal tourism is open for both Muslim and non-Muslim customers, stakeholders
including scholars in the field have developed a misconception that Halal
tourism is only for Muslims. However, in practice, it is compliant with Sharia
but open for all. No
doubting, Ethiopia can be among the top beneficiaries of Halal tourism
developments. Its history as a land of the first Hijra and her geopolitical position
for Islamic world enable her to capture the halal tourists’ demand of the
Islamic world.  In this paper,
literatures and previous researches in the area have been analyzed. Both
opportunities and challenges that Ethiopia will be facing in implementing halal
tourism have also been inventoried and analyzed. Accordingly, the applicability
of Halal tourism in Ethiopian context has been well appraised. 

Keywords

Challenges, Ethiopia, Halal Tourism, Opportunities

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