Australia Getol Gets Indonesian Muslim Tourists Through Mosafa

JAKARTA The Australian government is getting serious about attracting Muslim tourists from Indonesia by introducing a halal tour program called Mosafa (Moslem Friendly Australia). This initiative was promoted directly by Tourism Australia during their visit to Jakarta at the end of April, in collaboration with Cheria Holiday and Halal Travel Consortium (HTK).

The activity was attended by more than 100 halal travel agents who are members of HTK. The Australian Tourism Delegation consisting of Jennifer Doig, Sue Michail, Agitya Nuraini, Vera Darmadi, and Wendy Kosasih, explained the benefits of Mosafa, which was specially designed to provide Muslim-friendly travel experience throughout Australia.

According to Cheriatna, CEO of Cheria Holiday and founder of the Halal Travel Consortium, this program is an important breakthrough in opening up halal tourism access to nearby western countries that are friendly to Muslims.

Australia menyadari besar potensi wisatawan Muslim Indonesia. Saat ini, Islam menjadi agamah kedua di Australia dengan hampir 900 ribu pengikut. Dua tahun lalu, ada sekitar 200 ribu wisatawan asal Indonesia yang berkunjung ke sana. Mosafa diharapkan mampu meningkatkan angka tersebut secara signifikan, ujar Cheriatna.

Australia is considered one of the most progressive western countries in welcoming Muslim tourists. The worship facilities are easy to find, as well as all animal products with halal certification. This makes Australia an alternative favorite destination besides Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Europe.

Mosafa is designed to provide halal tour packages at economical prices, especially if participants depart in large groups. With this scheme, travel agents still benefit, while tourists enjoy more affordable prices and optimal services.

Through this consortium, travel agents can provide smart solutions for customers. Many think a tour to Australia is expensive, but if you leave in a group of 30 people, the cost is much cheaper. This benefits all parties," added Cheriatna, the father of 14 children.

Towards the turn of the year, Mosafa offers a unique experience of traveling in four Australian seasons gur, cold, semi, and hot while maintaining the comfort of worship and the availability of halal food.

Some of the leading destinations offered on the Mosafa tour include: Blue Mountains' biggest Light Festival, Opera House in Sydney, the giant culprit in Brisbane, coffee at Melbourne Skydeck, and enjoying the beauty of Rottnest Island in Perth.

Not only Australia, the Halal Travel Consortium also provides halal tour packages to various countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and America in collaboration with tourism institutions destination countries.