Muslim-friendly tourism as a pathway for tourism recovery in Japan, post COVID19

• Project/Area Number: 23K17119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 80020:Tourism studies-related
• Research Institution: Wakayama University
• Principal Investigator: ZainalAbidin Husna 和歌山大学, 国際観光学研究センター, 特任講師 (60938108)
• Project Period (FY): 2023-04-01 – 2026-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2023: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
• Keywords: Muslim Friendly Tourism / Halal Tourism / Destination Management / Regional revitalization / Islam

Outline of Research at the Start

This research aims to explore Muslim-friendly tourism development for outlying destinations in Japan. A sequential qualitative research approach will be adopted by conducting content analysis, destination observations and interviews with tourism stakeholders of an existing Muslim-friendly destination (i.e. Okayama prefecture). This study is timely and important as it contributes to an emerging, yet under-researched area of Muslim tourism development. Furthermore, it will contribute to an enhanced industry practice by providing evidence-based recommendations for tourism destinations to follow.