Halal Tourism Marks Major Milestone at WTM London as Market Shifts Toward High-Value Global Travel LONDON
The Halal Travel Network (HTN) hosted a landmark trade session at the World Travel Market (WTM) London Experience Hub stage bringing together international travel trade leaders, hoteliers, DMCs, and tourism boards to explore the rapid evolution of halal tourism. Key highlights and takeaways shared during the WTM Meet-Up include:
Rapid Market Growth to 262M Arrivals Halal travel has evolved from a niche checklist into a high-value component of the global visitor economy, with international Muslim arrivals projected to reach 262 million by 2030. Muslim travellers are increasingly seeking diverse, adventurous experiences ranging from luxury safaris in Botswana and cultural expeditions in Uzbekistan to polar plunges in Antarctica.
Moving Beyond Generic Assumptions While faith-related needs (halal food sourcing transparency, prayer facilities, privacy options) remain fundamental, demographic background does not dictate travel budgets or interests. The primary industry bottleneck is removing booking friction caused by vague product information.
Global Scale & Trade Education Founded in 2020 as a professional community, HTN has expanded into a global trade network spanning 500+ members across 90 countries. Through live operator workshops, trade sessions, and the digital HTN Academy, HTN provides tailored operational training to front-desk staff, safari guides, and selling agents to drive ground-level capability.
Consumer Insights & Booking Tech Industry partner Halalbooking joined the session to share consumer search data, detailing how search filters, listing transparency, and booking technology convert market demand into bookable reality .
Looking Ahead to 2027 To connect trade-ready suppliers directly with qualified global agents, HTN is rolling out dedicated hosted buyer programmes, regional roadshows, immersive FAM trips, and thematic campaigns around key travel windows such as Ramadan .
"The ambition to explore is already here. Our focus is equipping the global travel trade with the operational clarity and trade connections needed to make these experiences seamless and bookable."
Hafsa Gaher, Founder & CEO, Halal Travel Network