Brunei among safest countries for female Muslim travellers, annual travel report finds
Brunei has been ranked fifth among Muslim women-friendly destinations, revealed by the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023, released recently.
According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin on Monday, Malaysia topped the Muslim women-friendly destinations and is closely followed by Indonesia.
Brunei scored highly on faith restrictions, places of prayer and airport services but declined on destination marketing, connectivity and enabling environment.
The annual report analyses data from nearly 140 countries to gain insight into which destinations best meet the needs of the growing halaal travel community.
The index assesses destinations by four key criteria: access, communication, environment and services.
According to GMTI, Muslim international arrivals reached 110 million in 2022 and are expected to reach 140 million this year.
By 2028, Muslim travellers are expected to reach 230 million, with projected spending of $225-billion,
Asia currently leads the way in arrivals, with more than 31 percent of travellers to the region identifying as Muslim.
When it comes to solo travel, Google data found that Hanoi, Bangkok and Taipei were among the most popular.
Explore Travel, the company that conducted the research, said, “Our study also highlights the ever-growing popularity of solo travel as a meaningful way to experience the world: it’s a powerful reminder that travel is not just about the destination, but the journey itself, and the personal growth that comes with stepping outside of our comfort zones.”