The Tourism Promotion Ministry has taken action to develop Halaal industry in Sri Lanka to carter the needs of tourism industry and compete more effectively in the global marketplace. As a major step towards this, a Halaal Conference and an Exhibition 2010 has been organized at Galadari Hotel.

Tourism Promotion Minister Faizer Mustapha, who inaugurated the Halaal Conference and Exhibition said that the concept of Halaal Tourism extends far beyond the hotel industry. Restaurateurs, transport providers, healthcare services, retailers and many other industries will benefit from the phenomenal growth that has been witnessed in this market segment, reported Daily News.

The ramifications would cut a positive swathe over a wider spectrum of society - from the farmer providing agricultural produce for the hotel industry to the corporate CEO formulating a strategy to use Halaal as an “engine for growth”, the theme of this event, the Minister said.

He said the timing of the conference is very apt as his Ministry has specially targeted the Middle-Eastern traveler and the results of the efforts can already be seen.

“It is imperative that the country is geared to meet the challenges that lay ahead, especially in terms of meeting the needs and expectations of tourists that are becoming more discerning. The country has to be cognizant of the competition for such tourists from various other countries and to be proactive in this regard,” he said.

The term Halaal is not the exclusive domain of the Muslim community. Over 90 percent of the Halaal industry worldwide is actually owned by non-Muslims. This fact is reflected at this very event, in which the plethora of sponsors and exhibitors are a true reflection of the multi-cultural society, the Minister further stated.