Where Tourism Meets Values

Speakers:

Abdul Maalik Tailor, founding CEO of Halal Tourism Britain, is a pioneer leader in halal tourism and Britain’s first professionally qualified Muslim tour guide. His leadership has earned Halal Tourism Britain multiple awards, 5-star TripAdvisor reviews, and collaborations with Britain’s National tourism office Visit Britain and UKinbound travel trade association. Recognised globally by media outlets like the BBC and Al Jazeera and in the world of Halal travel he’s also inspired international Muslim heritage tours in countries such as Amsterdam, Barbados, Edinburgh, Paris and Vietnam. Notable initiatives include the Islamic Arts & Heritage Festival and the first Islamic tour at Tate Britain. He was named World Halal Travel Tour Guide 2023 and is among the top 50 influential Muslims in Europe. His tours, praised for surpassing museum standards, promote inclusivity and cultural understanding. Born Hindu, Tailor converted to Islam after a personal spiritual journey. His story is one of leadership, innovation, and cultural bridge-building through tourism.

Fayrouz Holliday-October is a trailblazing leader in South Africa's Halal tourism industry. As Chair of the Halal Tourism Association of South Africa, she has been instrumental in promoting Halal-compliant travel and hospitality services.

Fayrouz is also an executive member of Women in Tourism Western Cape, where she advocates for greater inclusion and representation of women in the tourism industry.

As Chief Vision Officer of Halal Hopper, a dedicated tour operator, Fayrouz ensures that Halal guidelines are strictly followed, fostering trust and loyalty among Muslim travellers and non-Muslim Halal consumers.

Additionally, Fayrouz facilitates community-based tourism initiatives in townships and rural areas, empowering local residents to develop tourism awareness and readiness. Through workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building programs, she enables communities to prepare for and benefit from tourism, promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism practices.

A seasoned Tourist Guide, Fayrouz is passionate about showcasing South Africa's rich cultural and historical heritage. Her expertise has also been recognized on the global stage, where she has served as a speaker at the prestigious BRICS Forum in Moscow, sharing her insights on tourism development and cultural exchange.

Her journey has been marked by dedication, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in the tourism industry.

Dr Nurhafihz Noor  is a Lecturer in Marketing at James Cook University (Singapore Campus). His research focuses on services marketing, technology adoption, and halal and hospitality. His recognized works include the development of a service quality scale for AI agents AISAQUAL and a review of the new halal tourism model RIDA. Dr Hafihz holds Fellowships from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Higher Education Academy, and serves as an advisor for several organizations. He has received CrescentRating's Halal Travel Scholar of the Year Award, underscoring his impact in providing inclusive academic inquiry and thought leadership in emerging global markets.

Muhammad Rahmad is a distinguished tourism expert and academic who brings over two decades of multifaceted experience to the HaSIM Forum Dialogue. Currently serving as a lecturer at Institut Pariwisata Trisakti, Executive Director of the Indonesian Tourism Studies Center, and CEO Rama Group, Dr. Rahmad holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of Information Technology Management from University of Wollongong, Australia, and is completing his doctoral studies in Tourism Science. His extensive career spans diplomatic service for over 17 years, advisory roles at the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI), and leadership positions in the tourism industry as Chairman of AMPHURI and former Secretary General of ASITA. A prolific author and researcher, he has published numerous books including "Tourism 5.0: Strategic Transformation of Indonesian Tourism Towards Golden Indonesia 2045" (2024) and various academic papers on immersive technology in tourism. His unique combination of diplomatic experience, legislative expertise, academic credentials, and industry leadership provides a comprehensive perspective on contemporary tourism development and policy. Contact: muhammadrahmad@iptrisakti.ac.id

Associate Professor Hera Oktadiana, Ph.D, CHE is an internationally recognized tourism scholar and researcher who brings extensive academic expertise to her role as co-founder of the HaSIM Forum. Hera is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University, and at James Cook University, Australia. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Brawijaya, Indonesia, and as an Associate Professor in the postgraduate and doctoral programs at the Trisakti Institute of Tourism, Indonesia. Hera holds a Ph.D. from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), accredited by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, USA.

Hera has served as the Head of the Hotel Management and Hospitality and Tourism departments at BINUS University, BINUS International, and Bunda Mulia University. Additionally, she has held the position of Deputy Manager for International Hotel and Tourism at Trisakti School of Tourism.

Her research areas include tourist behaviour, Muslim/Halal tourism, tourism sustainability, and tourism education. She has published her scholarly works in various reputable international tourism journals indexed by SCOPUS, as well as in book chapters and an edited book titled “Delivering Tourism Intelligence: From Analysis to Action.” Several of her academic works and publications have received awards, including from the Ministry of Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), and Wiley Publication.

Hera is also a frequent speaker at numerous international conferences and events. She is actively involved as a member of the Editorial Board in renowned international tourism journals, serving as a guest editor, review editor, editorial advisory board member, regional editor, and associate editor. She is also the founder of Muslim Women in Tourism & Hospitality (M.WiTH).

Together, let's create tourism that respects faith, protects the planet, and includes everyone.