Thread: DoT to Promote Friendly Tourism for Muslim Visitors

The Department of Tourism (DoT) seeks to attract Muslim tourists to the country by promoting Thailand as a friendly tourism destination.


The DoT and the private sectors recently held a focus group discussion on Islamic tourism in Phuket province. This was the fourth such discussion, with previous ones held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chon Buri. DoT’s Tourist Attractions Development Division Director Athuek Phrasenmoon stated that the global tourism industry recognizes Muslim tourists as a fast-growing market with high spending power.


Referring to focus group talks, Athuek said Muslim tourists prefer Muslim-friendly destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Krabi, as well as hotels and restaurants that serve halal food and provide facilities such as prayer rooms. The private sector also suggested promoting tourism activities related to the Muslim calendar, such as offering attractive campaigns after Ramadan, which is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims


According to the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2022, Thailand is the fourth most popular non-Muslim country among Muslim tourists, behind Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The kingdom received 11.8 million international visitors in 2022, with over 400,000 of whom traveling from the Middle East, a 65% increase over the same period in 2019. This group’s overall spending also increased by 71% over the previous four years.


With this in mind, the DoT is committed to developing a solid plan to attract more Muslim tourists to the kingdom while ensuring that they feel welcome and comfortable during their stay. Aside from implementing a solid tourism promotion strategy, the department is also working to prepare authorities and personnel working in the hospitality and service industries to understand their culture, behavior, and particular needs.

DoT to Promote Friendly Tourism for Muslim Visitors

Will they be supplying I LOVE THAILAND" suicide vests?

How is Bangkok Muslim friendly?

Originally Posted by DrWilly

How is Bangkok Muslim friendly?

One of many in Bangers.

Room rate Al Meroz Hotel Bangkok- The Leading Halal Hotel Bangkok, Suan Luang from 18-03-2023 until 19-03-2023

Bum-n Bong at Inshallow Sheesha parlour

"Religiously intolerant country which marginalises Muslim community promotes Muslim tourism"

Malaysia has quite a few Muslim-oriented tourism programs which work quite well, feel like being a Muslim as opposed to a tourist, lots to offer. Feel like being a tourist instead of being a Muslim tourist while still having open and plentiful access to mosques, halal food etc ...

Originally Posted by Norton

One of many in Bangers.

Room rate Al Meroz Hotel Bangkok- The Leading Halal Hotel Bangkok, Suan Luang from 18-03-2023 until 19-03-2023

Which might make the hotel muslim friendly, but I do not instantly think of Bangkok when someone mentions Muslim friendly desintations around the world!

Thailand, particularly Phuket and Pattaya, is a very popular destination for musllims travelling from GCC countries.

The relatively high number of mosques in Chiang Mai also surprised me.

Whether it would put Thailand foremost for travelling muslims in the mind of some random aussie living in Malaysia is neither here nor there, really.

Originally Posted by reinvented

a number of muslim heavy areas of bangkok

Particularly Nong Jok, North East of BKK.