PH jumps to rank 5 in top non-OIC Muslim destinations

MANILA – The Philippines is this year’s “standout performer” among 20 Muslim-friendly destinations in non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries after jumping three spots to No. 5.

In its 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) released on Thursday, Mastercard and CrescentRating said the Philippines posted the “single highest index momentum shift” compared to all other non-OIC destinations.

“This growth trajectory reflects an aggressive, multi-layered institutional commitment to engineering an inclusive tourism ecosystem that balances the country’s legendary hospitality with rigorous faith-compatible parameters,” the index said.

READ: PH again cited as ‘Muslim-friendly’ tourist destination

The latest data showed that the country also jumped nine spots to 27 in the global rankings, with a total score of 58 from last year’s 53.

In addition, the result placed the Philippines among the 10 leading destinations, along with Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, where the level of stakeholder awareness on Muslim travel requirements and language accessibility is high.

“We look at the amount of events that is hosted, the level of promotion that is done by the government, and we also look at the facilities,” CrescentRating head for research and capacity building Tawfiq Ikhtianto said in an interview on the sidelines of the Department of Tourism-led Salaam: Halal Travel and Trade Expo in Quezon City on Friday.

“[T]here are significant increases in terms of the halal-certified restaurants, and in hotels that actually offer Muslim-friendly amenities — that’s one of the most important things that actually increased the score of the Philippines,” he added.

In the index report, the group cited DOT’s inclusion of faith-based offerings “early in the upstream planning cycle” as a huge factor in the Philippines’ increased visibility and discoverability among Muslim travelers.

Investment on PH halal tourism

In the same event, Tourism Secretary Dita Mathay welcomed the new index and promised to do more on the part of the government to achieve higher rankings in the coming years.

She said Muslim-friendly tourism had remained a key part of the agency’s strategy for an inclusive and competitive industry.

“The halal economy has become a major global growth sector. It commits nearly two billion consumers worldwide and is generating significant economic activity across multiple regions,” she said.

“This matters for us because it is not abstract. It translates into jobs, into income, into business opportunities, and it translates into industries that are expanding in real time. For the Philippines. It is a major opportunity,” she said.

READ: DOT wants more Muslim-friendly tourist destinations, establishments

She said the Salaam expo, which has brought more than a dozen exhibitors this year, will also continue as part of the government’s efforts to develop the tourism segment.

In addition, she said the government will further boost its halal certification capacity to strengthen trust in the country’s systems and standards.

“We are working closely with our ASEAN partners, particularly Malaysia and Brunei, whose halal ecosystems are globally recognized for their strength and credibility,” she said.

“Through cooperation on standards, certification expertise and capacity building, we aim to strengthen not only our domestic system, but also contribute to more integrated regional halal economy,” she added.

According to GMTI 2026, the global Muslim travel market is forecast to hit 208 million in 2026, scaling rapidly to 262 million by 2030.

The total Muslim population is also projected to reach 2.57 billion by 2036, with around 70 percent under 40 years old.

This demographic, the index said, highlights the need for destinations to step up efforts in “shifting away from legacy, analog travel packages” toward “hyper-personalized, algorithm-ready, and mobile-first discovery ecosystems. (PNA)

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.