The Department of Science and Technology Western Visayas (DOST Western Visayas), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism Western Visayas (DOT Western Visayas), conducted a seminar for tourism establishments in Boracay Island aimed at integrating Muslim-friendly practices into its hospitality sector.

Held coinciding with this year’s Ramadan season, the initiative serves as a warm invitation to Muslim travelers through ensuring that their spiritual and cultural needs, from Halal-certified food preparation to faith-based service requirements, are met with professional excellence and genuine Filipino hospitality.

Participants were introduced to Halal (lawful or permissible under Sharia’h or Islamic Law) concept and principles, Halal food preparation, and Halal food service to understand how to provide inclusive and respectful hospitality services through proper handling practices and compliance with Halal requirements. 

An orientation on technical consultancy services offered by DOST was also held led by Joeben V. Gubatanga, Senior Science Research Specialist. Mr. Gubatanga discussed DOST’s consultancy programs, including the Muslim-friendly services program which will be extended to accommodation establishments in the island to strengthen their capacity to cater to Muslim guests.

For local startups and emerging entrepreneurs in the food service and accommodation sectors in Boracay Island, this initiative marks a strategic turning point for business growth. DOST is actively leveraging its technical expertise to help local tourism establishments tap into the lucrative Halal market through its comprehensive Muslim-friendly services program. Through activities such as this seminar, DOST continues to support the tourism industry by promoting inclusive practices and equipping stakeholders with the knowledge needed to cater to diverse tourists and travelers.

As one of the country’s premier destinations, Boracay Island stands to benefit from these efforts by becoming more accessible and welcoming to Muslim travelers, further strengthening its position in the global tourism market. (VMMPoncedeLeon, ARSilvestre/DOST Aklan; Photos by DOST Aklan, DOT Western Visayas)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.

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