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Tourism Officials to Tackle Shortage of Halal Restaurants
Writer : 관리자 (halal@world-expo.co.kr)   Date : 18.02.20   Hit : 1781

Tourism Officials to Tackle Shortage ofHalal Restaurants


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The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) willlaunch Halal Restaurant Week again on a bigger scale between August and Octoberthis year, with a total of 250 halal restaurants set to be in operation by theend of this year. (Image: Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) ? SouthKorean tourism officials are poised to introduce more Muslim-friendly placesfollowing criticism over the lack of halal restaurants in the country.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) willlaunch Halal Restaurant Week again on a bigger scale between August and Octoberthis year, with a total of 250 halal restaurants set to be in operation by theend of this year.

With the goal of attracting 3 millionforeign visitors this year, the Busan Metropolitan City Government is in talkswith Muslim travel agencies to develop Muslim-friendly travel programs.

The latest moves come after criticism thatthere is a lack of Muslim-friendly venues in the country, including halalrestaurants and prayer rooms.

According to last year’s report from theKTO on Muslim tourists in South Korea, nearly 38 percent of the respondentssaid food was an issue.

Only 13 restaurants have been officiallycertified as halal in South Korea by the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) as oflast December, with six of them located in Itaewon, Seoul.

Not even a single restaurant in tourist hotspots such as Myeong-dong and Jeju Island has been recognized asMuslim-friendly by the KMF, restricting choice for Muslim visitors.

Halal refers to food permissible undertraditional Islamic law, including vegetables, grain, seafood, chicken andbeef.

Despite efforts by the KTO, including itsown halal restaurant standards, few restaurants have opted to participate inthe program.

Another criticism is leveled against thelack of prayer rooms, as praying is a crucial part of religious life forMuslims. There are 25 prayer rooms around the country, including mosques,according to the KTO.

Only luxury hotels seem to be ready toaccommodate Muslim tourists who also pray in private, such as in their hotelrooms.

 

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South Korean tourism officials are poisedto introduce more Muslim-friendly places following criticism over the lack ofhalal restaurants in the country. (Image KTO)

 

With 1.7 billion Muslims increasing theirsignificance in the tourism industry, efforts to attract them will onlyaccelerate,” one industry official said.

In the past, the push to attract Muslimtourists has been met with backlash.

Plans for a mobile prayer room for Muslimsat the PyeongChang Olympics were scrapped after facing criticism from Christiancommunities earlier this month.

M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)

Link-> http://koreabizwire.com/tourism-officials-to-tackle-shortage-of-halal-restaurants/111446

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