How PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report Will Guide Global Tourism Toward Muslim-Friendly Growth Through Inclusivity, Purpose, and the RIDA Framework

How PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report will guide global tourism toward Muslim-friendly growth through inclusivity, purpose, and the RIDA Framework is the story reshaping the travel landscape in 2025. How PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report will guide global tourism toward Muslim-friendly growth is not just about insights—it’s about action. In fact, how PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report will guide global tourism toward Muslim-friendly growth through inclusivity, purpose, and the RIDA Framework sets a new benchmark for the entire travel sector.

The question of how PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report will guide global tourism toward Muslim-friendly growth speaks directly to the future. At the heart of the strategy is purpose, and how that purpose, anchored in inclusivity, aligns with Muslim travelers’ expectations. The Halal Travel Trends Report, developed by PATA and CrescentRating, offers global tourism leaders a blueprint. It is through the RIDA Framework that growth becomes not only possible but sustainable.

To understand how PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report will guide global tourism toward Muslim-friendly growth, one must examine the layered insights on travel trends, digital behavior, and values. And through purpose, inclusivity, and the RIDA Framework, the report shows exactly how PATA and CrescentRating’s Halal Travel Trends Report will guide global tourism toward Muslim-friendly growth in every region, for every stakeholder, with lasting impact.

In a pivotal move to reshape the future of inclusive tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has partnered with CrescentRating, a global leader in Halal travel research, to launch the Halal Travel Trends 2025 report, produced in collaboration with Mastercard. Unveiled at the PATA Annual Summit 2025 (PAS 2025) in Macao, the report introduces cutting-edge insights into one of the fastest-growing segments in global travel: the Muslim-friendly travel sector.

This partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is a strategic step forward in fostering meaningful engagement with the global Muslim traveler demographic—an increasingly influential force in shaping the next era of tourism. With the Muslim population projected to account for over 30% of the world’s total population by 2060, their travel preferences and values are reshaping everything from hospitality design to destination marketing strategies.

A Timely and Transformative Collaboration

PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid described the collaboration with CrescentRating as “a meaningful step forward” in expanding inclusivity and purpose-driven tourism planning. “We recognize the profound significance and vast, often untapped, potential of the Muslim-friendly travel sector. Driven by a growing global Muslim population with increasing economic influence, it presents a substantial opportunity for destinations and travel businesses worldwide,” Hamid stated.

The Halal Travel Trends 2025 report goes beyond static data; it offers a strategic blueprint for destinations looking to better understand, attract, and serve Muslim travelers. During the featured summit session, “Halal Travel Frontier 2025: What Destinations Need to Know Now,” CrescentRating CEO Fazal Bahardeen presented the report’s most impactful findings.

Bahardeen underscored the timely nature of this work. “As we navigate an evolving travel landscape shaped by shifting demographics and values-driven choices, the Halal Travel Trends 2025 report offers a timely lens into what truly matters to Muslim travelers today. It’s not just about where they go, but how they want to travel—with purpose, inclusivity, and authenticity.”

Unpacking the RIDA Framework: A Muslim Traveler Mindset

At the heart of the report is CrescentRating’s RIDA Framework, a guiding model for aligning tourism experiences with the expectations of modern Muslim travelers. RIDA stands for Responsible, Immersive, Digital, and Assured—four pillars that define the core demands of this consumer segment.

• Responsible: Muslim travelers increasingly seek ethical tourism—eco-conscious destinations, support for local communities, and sustainable hospitality practices.
• Immersive: The desire to experience culture deeply and respectfully is growing. From Halal culinary adventures to historical storytelling, travelers seek connections, not just transactions.
• Digital: With the majority of the Muslim travel market skewing younger and tech-savvy, digital platforms, booking ease, and mobile-friendly services are critical.
• Assured: This pillar emphasizes faith-compliant infrastructure—including Halal food, prayer spaces, and modest recreational options.

The RIDA framework empowers travel providers, national tourism boards, airlines, and hotels to fine-tune their offerings in ways that build trust, increase satisfaction, and unlock market share from a loyal and high-spending traveler base.

Muslim-Friendly Travel: A Rising Economic Power

According to Mastercard and CrescentRating’s past research, Muslim travel spending is projected to reach $225 billion globally by 2028, with the majority of growth expected in Asia, the Middle East, and emerging markets in Africa and Europe. The Halal Travel Trends 2025 report helps identify travel intent, digital behavior, destination preferences, and barriers to travel, arming the industry with actionable intelligence.

At PAS 2025, delegates were reminded that Muslim travelers are not monolithic. The report breaks down regional preferences, generational shifts, and evolving standards in areas like Halal certification transparency, gender-sensitive tourism experiences, and family-friendly service design.

This data-driven perspective is especially valuable for non-Muslim majority destinations that are increasingly eager to tap into the Halal travel economy but require guidance on cultural expectations, language cues, and operational best practices.

PATA’s Expanding Influence in Inclusive Tourism

The PATA–CrescentRating collaboration reflects PATA’s broader shift toward inclusive, purpose-aligned tourism ecosystems. With the global traveler more conscious of ethics, culture, and identity, PATA is building bridges with specialized partners that can deliver depth, credibility, and community-driven outcomes.

“We aim to amplify our impact by exchanging knowledge, co-creating initiatives, and addressing shared challenges with a united voice,” Hamid explained during the summit’s on-stage announcement ceremony.

PATA’s growing emphasis on inclusive tourism, from women-led entrepreneurship to accessible travel frameworks, is expected to align with upcoming initiatives under this new Halal tourism partnership—particularly in the lead-up to VisitAsia2026, which will feature faith-inclusive programming, culinary trails, and targeted outreach to Muslim travelers across the Asia-Pacific.

Global Industry Response: Receptive and Ready

Industry stakeholders attending PAS 2025 responded enthusiastically to the report’s insights. From Thai Tourism Authority officials exploring Halal-focused food festivals, to European airlines interested in onboard faith-based amenities, there’s clear momentum to evolve traditional tourism models to become more reflective of modern traveler identities.

Hospitality groups also expressed strong interest in leveraging RIDA to design certification programs, improve staff training on Muslim guest expectations, and create bundled experiences that appeal to multi-generational family groups—a dominant dynamic among Muslim travelers.

As Fazal Bahardeen noted, “Destinations and providers that embrace these values are not only more welcoming, they’re also more competitive.”

What’s Next: Building a Values-Driven Global Tourism Model

Following the launch of the Halal Travel Trends 2025 report, PATA and CrescentRating plan to co-host regional roadshows, engage with destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and collaborate on policy-level dialogues around inclusive travel standards.

Additionally, the report’s findings will be integrated into upcoming B2B and B2G events, as well as digital certification programs that help suppliers fast-track their alignment with Halal tourism requirements.

This partnership, rooted in shared values of authenticity, purpose, and respect, serves as a model for cross-regional collaboration in a tourism world that must cater to diverse faiths, identities, and expectations.

Source: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/how-pata-and-crescentratings-halal-travel-trends-report-will-guide-global-tourism-toward-muslim-friendly-growth-through-inclusivity-purpose-and-the-rida-framework/