Mastercard has unveiled two reports, Halal Travel Trends 2026 and Muslim Women in Travel 2026, highlighting a significant shift in global tourism, with Muslim international visitor arrivals expected to reach 245 million by 2030. Muslim women are projected to make up nearly half of these travellers, with 90 million arrivals anticipated by 2025. This demographic shift is prompting destinations to reconsider their approaches to safety, inclusivity, and digital engagement.

The reports, developed in collaboration with CrescentRating, reveal that Muslim travel is one of the fastest-growing segments, with Asia at its core. Muslim women are increasingly influencing travel decisions, prioritising safety, trust, and faith-aligned experiences. The rise of digital tools, including social media and artificial intelligence, is transforming how Muslim travellers discover and plan their journeys.

A key component of the reports is the RIDA framework, which provides a roadmap for destinations to enhance their Muslim-friendly offerings. This framework aims to ensure that Muslim-friendly readiness is visible, verifiable, and consistent, moving beyond basic Halal offerings to deliver confidence-building experiences.

Raudha Zaini, Director of Operations at CrescentRating & HalalTrip, noted, "Muslim women now represent 48% of Muslim travellers globally, up from 45% in 2019." The reports underscore the importance of understanding and catering to the unique needs of Muslim women, who are willing to pay a premium for Muslim-friendly accommodations.

As the travel industry adapts to these changes, the reports offer actionable insights and data for destinations, businesses, and policymakers to capture opportunities and foster long-term loyalty among Muslim travellers

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