The Philippines has been recognized as one of the top Muslim-friendly destinations globally, rising to 8th place from 12th in 2024 in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025, according to Mastercard and CrescentRating.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco welcomed the recognition, saying it “affirms our steady commitment to introduce the Philippines as a halal and Muslim-friendly destination, as well as transforming our leading and emerging tourist spots to become those that practice inclusivity and diversity regardless of race and faith.”
Frasco said prioritizing halal and Muslim-friendly tourism “not only demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity but also open up opportunities to attract more Muslim travelers from around the world, while expanding markets for our tourism stakeholders and creating more livelihood and employment for our fellow Filipinos.”
The GMTI 2025 report’s foreword, written by CrescentRating and HalalTrip chief executive Fazal Bahardeen, noted the “significant strides in embracing the Muslim travel market” by non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations. He cited the “remarkable progress of destinations like Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines, driven by proactive government strategies.”
The report, published online on June 12, 2025, said, “the Philippines is steadily positioning itself as a Muslim-friendly destination by strengthening its capacity to welcome Muslim travelers. Efforts focus on improving accessibility to Halal food and integrating Muslim-friendly features at key tourist sites.”
The Philippines received a GMTI 2025 score of 53, a six-point increase from its GMTI 2024 score of 47. In both 2023 and 2024, the Philippines was recognized as the Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year (Non-OIC) at the Halal in Travel Awards.
The report also projected significant growth in the Muslim travel market, with “international Muslim arrivals reach[ing] 176 million in 2024 – up 25% from 2023 – and are projected to grow to 245 million by 2030. By then, total travel spending is expected to reach USD$230 billion.”
The DOT has actively promoted halal and Muslim-friendly tourism as part of its National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028. This includes the issuance of Memorandum Circular 2024-003, or the Amended Guidelines Governing the Operations and Recognition of Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishments, in April 2024.
The DOT has expanded its Halal and Muslim-friendly Tourism portfolio by introducing Halal-certified dining options, recognizing Muslim-friendly establishments, and hosting awareness orientations for tourism stakeholders. Programs such as SALAAM: The Halal Tourism and Trade Expo, and Marhaba Boracay, a Muslim-friendly cove on Boracay Island, have also been launched.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the DOT and Megaworld Hotels & Resorts led to all 13 properties of the hotel group being officially recognized as 100-percent Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishments (MFAE).
Megaworld Hotels & Resorts was named “Muslim-Friendly Chain of the Year” at the Halal in Travel Awards on Thursday (June 12) in Singapore.
The GMTI 2025 acknowledged Megaworld’s efforts, noting the “group has implemented various facilities and services tailored to meet the needs of Muslim travelers.”
These include Qibla direction markers in guest rooms, prayer rugs upon request, water-friendly toilets, and a list of nearby mosques. Some Megaworld properties also offer “Halal-certified breakfast menus and dedicated kitchen sections that are also Halal-certified by the local Halal certification body,” along with designated public prayer spaces and gender-separated spa facilities.