Shafaqna English- Cambodia and Indonesia will showcase their rich Muslim cultural heritage and rural lifestyles to boost tourism.
Renowned for its diverse cultures and ancient temples, the kingdom is now offering foreign visitors a chance to explore century-old Muslim communities and cultural identities preserved in remote villages.
“We are making efforts to make Mosques tourist attractions. In all provinces where there are Muslim kampungs, foreign tourists can see for themselves our history, culture and traditions.
“Here in Cambodia, we are called Cham (Muslims) and we have our own culture,” Yop Ahskary, State Secretary of the Cults and Religions Ministry, said in an interview during the Cambodia Muslim Friendly Tourism Forum and Fair in Phnom Penh.
Muslims comprise about 5% or 800,000 people of the 17 million population in predominantly Buddhist Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Indonesia, home to over 230 million Muslims and celebrated for its rich natural and cultural heritage, is positioning itself to take the leading role in Muslim-friendly tourism, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said.
She noted that Indonesia’s scale, heritage and infrastructure that include more than 309,000 mosques and 376,000 prayer rooms in airports, shopping centres and tourist sites, provide a strong foundation for attracting Muslim travellers.
Speaking at the International Halal Tourism Summit in Central Jakarta recently, Widiyanti emphasised the importance of improving attractions, accessibility and amenities to showcase Indonesia’s Muslim-friendly offerings.
Sources: The Star