Spain Emerges as Top Destination for Halal Tourism, Embracing Muslim Heritage

Halal tourism is emerging in Spain. This is evidenced by the Muslim visitors who flock to the country each year to enjoy a stay and soak up the rich history of Muslim Spain throughout the country. To fill the lack of halal offerings in restaurants and hotels, Aicha Fernández has launched the Halal Experience project. "Halal Experience wants to help companies ensure that Muslim customers have a better experience and that Spain becomes a more attractive destination for Muslims," she explains on the The New Arab website. Today, only Andalusia is considered a welcoming destination for Muslims, but Spain as a country has a lot to offer."

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Aicha organizes walking tours to present the Muslim heritage of the city of Toledo, located an hour from Madrid. "Andalusia is Al-Andalus, but Al-Andalus is not Andalusia, it’s much more," she explains. We think that Al-Andalus is what remains in this region and that there is not much else. We forget Soria, Zaragoza, Madrid, Toledo, Cáceres, Badajoz." Her colleague Rafael Martínez, in the Spanish capital, coordinates an initiative that explores the Muslim and Arab origins of Madrid, named Mayrit by its founder, Emir Mohammed I.

According to Bárbara Ruiz-Bejarano, director of the Las Fuentes Foundation for the dissemination of Islamic heritage in Spain, Muslim tourism is an opportunity to develop domestic tourism.

Some companies are already taking advantage of this opportunity. Spanish companies interested in certification have increased from 100 to more than 500 since 2010, according to the Spanish Halal Institute responsible for accrediting companies and services bearing the official halal seal in Spain, in parts of Europe and Latin America. The Costa del Sol hotel, located in the town of Torremolinos, is one of these companies. The establishment has invested in training its non-Muslim employees so that they have a minimum of education in Muslim culture and traditions to better serve their large community of Muslim customers. Thus, the number of hotels and establishments meeting the specific needs of Muslim customers continues to grow. For their part, government institutions are working to make Spain a more Muslim-friendly destination.