CROATIA FACES A MAJOR TOURISM OPPORTUNITY: Halal Tourism Market to Grow to 245 Million Trips by 2030

Zagreb hosted the first Halal Travel & Taste Summit, an international conference dedicated to halal tourism, one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry.

The event brought together domestic and international experts from the fields of tourism, hospitality, gastronomy and business to discuss the potential of a market that currently encompasses around 186 million international trips annually, with growth expected to reach as many as 245 million trips by 2030.

According to data presented at the Summit, annual spending by guests using services aligned with the halal standard could reach around USD 280 billion by the end of the decade, placing this segment among the most promising parts of the global tourism industry.

Through three panel discussions, participants discussed halal tourism as a global trend, the role of standards and certification in building trust, and the practical application of halal standards in the tourism sector.

Muhamed Mandžić, Manager of the Centre for Halal Quality Certification, emphasised that Croatia has very good prerequisites for stronger positioning in this market.

“Today we are talking about a market that is recording continuous growth and represents a significant opportunity for tourist destinations around the world. Croatia has quality tourism infrastructure, a rich gastronomic offer and a developed system of halal certification, which provides a good basis for further development of this tourism segment. The key message of the Summit is that halal means trust, and trust is the foundation of every successful tourism experience,” said Mandžić.

Summit participants concluded that Croatia has the potential to further strengthen its position in the growing global tourism market and to develop an offer tailored to the needs of guests who, during their travels, seek services aligned with the halal standard.