RRI.CO.ID, Ho Chi Minh City – The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Ho Chi Minh City promoted Indonesia’s halal tourism potential at the international seminar titled “Vietnam: The Emerging Global Gateway to the Halal Economy,” held in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on July 8–9, 2026.

According to a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, 15 July 2026, Indonesian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Carolina Tinangon, highlighted the potential of the halal tourism market in Southeast Asia and opportunities for tourism cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam through her presentation titled “The Potential of the Halal Tourism Market in Southeast Asia and Opportunities for Cooperation with Vietnam.”

She said the global Muslim population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2035, driving growing demand for Muslim-friendly tourism services, including halal food and prayer facilities. She emphasized that halal tourism should be viewed as a form of high-quality tourism that prioritizes cleanliness, safety, excellent service, and inclusivity. As the country with the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia offers several leading halal tourism destinations, including Lombok, Aceh, West Sumatra, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta.

She stressed that the halal tourism industry should not be seen as a competition but rather as an opportunity for collaboration between tourism stakeholders in Indonesia and Vietnam. This could be achieved through the development of integrated travel packages connecting destinations in both countries while adhering to halal principles.

Carolina also said such cooperation is expected to increase tourist arrivals, extend visitors’ length of stay, boost tourism revenue, and support economic growth in both countries and across the region.

The seminar was attended by representatives from the tourism industry, diplomatic missions, international tourism organizations, the aviation sector, halal certification bodies, international investment funds, as well as ambassadors and diplomats from several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

On the sidelines of the event, the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City also took part in discussions on strategies for developing halal tourism in Vietnam and exploring opportunities for international cooperation to strengthen partnerships in the sector.