Malang, MC – Malang Mayor Drs. H. Sutiaji revealed six main concepts to realize Malang City as a Center of Halal Tourism. This is as stated in the Malang City Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 1 of 2019 concerning the Malang City Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) for 2018-2023 and is also regulated in the provisions of the amendment contained in Perda Number 5 of 2021.
"So there is the development of halal tourism destinations, halal tourism events, cooperation on halal standardization in hotels, halal culinary destinations, strengthening the capacity of halal tourism human resources and promotion of halal tourism packages," said Sutiaji who was met after a meeting with the Malang City Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) at Malang City Hall, Friday (18/2/2022).
According to him, the potential for halal tourism is very large and this is what has been captured since the beginning of the idea in 2018. The 2018 Global Muslim Travel Index data revealed the prediction of the potential for halal tourism worldwide reaching 158 million tourists with an economic value of up to 220 billion dollars. He gave examples of the implementation of halal tourism in Japan, Korea and several other countries as an identical form of strategy that Malang City wants to achieve.
The explanation also clarifies the emergence of a viral polemic on social media regarding the halal city issue. The number one person in Malang City emphasized that he never used the language of halal city as the issue that was raised. Meanwhile, his party explained that there is a very big misconception that the Malang halal jargon is related to the implementation of certain religious laws.
"Malang halal means Center of Halal Tourism. So don't make a diction that Malang halal means Malang syari. It's a big mistake. In our RPJMD, our third mission is to realize a city that is tolerant in diversity," explained Sutiaji.
Sutiaji guarantees that Malang City is a city that always values diversity, which he considers as wealth, uniqueness, and capital for the growth and development of one of the most important educational cities in Indonesia. He and the Malang City Forkopimda routinely go around various religious places of worship to maintain communication and harmony, which he admits are facing serious challenges in the current digital era.
Therefore, Sutiaji appealed to the public both in Malang City and Indonesia not to be provoked by the debates of some parties who want to lead the issue of Malang halal towards SARA issues.
"It is impossible for Malang to be connoted in other areas that only implement certain religious laws. Malang is a miniature of Indonesia, so far it has been conducive and we have lived side by side comfortably. Don't let this be interpreted differently," he concluded. (ndu/ram)
