REFLECTING ON GMTI AND IMTI IN ASSESSING HALAL TOURISM PERFORMANCE IN INDONESIA TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL HALAL INDUSTRY

Abstract

This research used qualitative and descriptive methods by looking at the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) and Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI). Tourism is one of the vital incomes that has grown the world leader, including Indonesia, Indonesia does not want to be left behind by various countries in the world to develop tourism, especially halal tourism. The paper opted for an exploratory study using the open-ended approach of grounded theory, one expert group discussion with the stakeholder in halal tourism. The data were complemented by documentary analysis, including brand documents, descriptions of internal processes, and copies of employee magazine articles. The halal sector in recent years has been excellent in developing an economy in a country, such as the development of Islamic banking and Islamic finance. In addition to should an impression on Islamic finance, other sectors have also had a positive effect, one of which is tourism which can be the country's primary revenue and even local income. Indonesia, through the Ministry of Tourism, has decreed various regulations and stimulus funds for the development of halal tourism, such as pouring funds to Islamic hotels, airports, malls and so on. Moreover, has made fatwa as the basis for implementing halal tourism in Indonesia that make by National Sharia Council - Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI). Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. This paper covers the implications for the development of the halal sector in Indonesia and this momentum can be used as a strength for Indonesia considering that Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population. This paper fulfills the identified need to study how the halal sector could turn Indonesia into a new Islamic economic power.