Islamic tourism: A conceptual review and its relevance in Malaysia

Islamic tourism is often associated with the tourism of culture, religion and spirituality. The 9/11 incident has brought about a new dimension in global Islamic tourism for since then not only have international conferences and publications on Islamic tourism garnered serious attention among scholars but also that the pattern and arrival flow of international tourists have undergone a shift in favour of Islamic countries. While to date a single conceptualization of Islamic tourism is yet to be arrived at, the significance and need for embarking on a journey in Islam are stated in the Quran and relate very closely with several concepts of journeying in Islam like performing the hajj, umrah, rihlah, ziyara and tabligh. From the Islamic perspective, the concept of tourism can be seen in a broader spectrum of being a pious deed, a manifestation in understanding and empathizing with the greatness of Allah’s creations, and in seeking for His mercy and blessings. Islamic tourism involves three major components namely the economy, culture and religion. In the context of its implications to Malaysia, the founding of Islamic Tourism Center in the early 2010 has become a sound platform for solidifying the sectoral development of Islamic tourism in the country. It is to this end that this conceptual review would offer useful ground information and pointers.