Where Tourism Meets Values

The global halal tourism industry has long been framed through the lens of religious compliance — prayer facilities, halal-certified food, and faith-sensitive hospitality. Yet this framing, while necessary, risks reducing a rich and multidimensional phenomenon to a checklist of labels.

This session invites a deeper interrogation: when halal principles are applied with integrity, do they not — by their very nature — advance the broader goals of sustainability and inclusion that the global tourism agenda urgently demands?

At its core, halal tourism upholds values of ethical conduct, fairness, environmental stewardship, and respect for human dignity. These are not incidental to sustainability and inclusion — they are foundational to them. A destination that genuinely embraces halal principles tends to be one that protects its natural environment, safeguards the wellbeing of local communities, ensures equitable access for diverse travellers, and resists the extractive logic that has historically harmed both ecosystems and host populations.

The HaSIM Forum brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to move this conversation beyond certification and compliance. The question is not merely what halal tourism is, but what it can become — a framework for tourism that is ethical by design, inclusive by default, and sustainable in its deepest sense.

This session will explore the intersections between halal values and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the role of Muslim-friendly tourism in expanding access for underserved traveller segments, and the policy and industry conditions required to transform halal tourism from a niche market label into a genuinely transformative force in global tourism governance.

Panelists:

Ahmad Albattat is an Associate Professor and Program Leader in the School of Global Hospitality and Tourism, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is a visiting professor and external examiner at Medan Tourism Polytechnic (Poltekpar Medan). He is a doctoral supervisor at the European Global Institute of Innovation & Technology, Malta, and Rushford Business School, Switzerland. He received a PhD in Hospitality Management, “Disaster and Emergency Planning and Preparedness,” from University Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia. He was working for the Jordanian hospitality industry for 17 years. He is an active member of several scientific and editorial boards of international journals and a reviewer, author, and editor for book projects with Emeralds Publishing, Routledge Publishing, Springers Publishing, Good Fellow Publishing, and IGI Global Publishing.

Amr Al-Ansi is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Macao. He holds a Ph.D. in hospitality and tourism management and has built an outstanding record of publications and research contributions. Dr. Al-Ansi is an internationally recognized expert in halal tourism, with his research consistently ranked among the most highly cited in the field in past years. His work focuses on Muslim‑friendly destinations, halal tourism attributes, Islamophobia, local communities and resident perceptions, traveler behavior, and the integration of Islamic values into mainstream tourism services across both Muslim‑majority and non‑Muslim contexts.

Beyond halal tourism, his broader research interests include cultural heritage preservation, innovations in tourism technology, sustainable tourism development, and destination branding. He serves on the editorial boards and as a peer reviewer for several leading SSCI‑indexed journals, actively contributing to advancing rigorous scholarship. Through his teaching, research, and service, Dr. Al-Ansi aims to promote evidence‑based strategies for developing halal tourism markets while fostering cross‑cultural understanding and sustainable industry growth. 

Dr. Yanki blends 25 years of academic rigor with 15 years as an HR practitioner. She specializes in cross-cultural leadership, bridging Asian and Western organizational cultures. Her research pioneers insights into cyber-multigenerational workforce behavior and the transformative impact of AI on sustainable tourism, driving global organizational excellence and innovation. 

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).

Elyn Hastriana, BBA, M. Par  is a distinguished tourism professional with over three decades of multifaceted experience spanning academia, corporate leadership, diplomatic service, and scholar from Trisakti Tourism Institute, Jakarta. Currently serving as Director of RAMA Group, co-founder of the HaSIM Forum, and founder of the Center for Indonesian Tourism Studies. She brings a unique combination of 19 years as Director in tourism corporations.

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