The food preference of young travellers for halal tourism destinations in Malaysia

Abstract

Halal tourism has emerged as a vital niche in the global travel industry, particularly among young Muslims seeking travel experiences that align with their religious values. This study aims to explore the influence of halal food availability and halal certificates on young travellers' selection of halal tourism destinations. A quantitative approach was employed, involving the distribution of structured questionnaires to 146 Muslim tertiary students. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS Version 27. The results indicated a strong preference for destinations offering halal food options, with the majority of respondents agreeing that such availability is a primary factor in their travel decision-making. The findings contribute to the understanding of young Muslim travelers' preferences and provide practical insights for tourism stakeholders seeking to attract this demographic. The study concludes that the availability of halal food significantly influences the travel choices of Muslim tertiary students and should be prioritized in the development of halal tourism.