Media resources
Everything needed to report on the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026 — verified facts, data downloads, citation formats, boilerplates and media contacts.
Key facts
- Malaysia is the #1 Muslim-friendly travel destination in the GMTI 2026, with a score of 82 out of 100.
- Indonesia, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia share the #2 position, each scoring 79.
- Singapore is the top non-OIC destination — ranked #11 globally with a score of 72.
- Muslim international arrivals reached 196 million in 2025, an 11.3% increase year-on-year.
- Arrivals are projected to reach 262 million by 2030, driving an estimated USD 310 billion in annual travel expenditure.
- The GMTI 2026 evaluates 150 destinations, covering more than 98% of global Muslim arrivals.
All facts above may be quoted freely with attribution (see citation formats below).
Data & assets
- Full 150-destination rankings (CSV) — rank, score, market, region, year-on-year movement
- Full rankings (JSON) — same data, machine-readable with provenance
- GMTI 2026 report cover (JPEG)
- Browsable full rankings table
- Full report download
The GMTI and Mastercard names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Chart and cover assets may be reproduced in editorial coverage of the GMTI 2026 with attribution.
How to cite
In-text / editorial
“…according to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026.”
Full reference
Mastercard & CrescentRating (2026). Global Muslim Travel Index 2026 (11th ed.). crescentrating.com/insights/gmti
Questions from the press, answered
Answers CrescentRating has provided to journalists covering the GMTI 2026 — quotable with attribution.
What does the growth of Muslim travel signal about the wider Asia Pacific tourism economy?
Muslim international arrivals reached 196 million in 2025, up 11.3% year on year. We project this will rise to 208 million in 2026 and 262 million by 2030. Southeast Asia has emerged as a leading corridor for inbound stability among Asian Muslim travelers, demonstrating the pivotal role this segment plays in driving Asia Pacific's tourism recovery and long-term growth.
What spending or behavioral shifts should destinations watch for?
First, outbound demand is diversifying: the top 30 source markets accounted for nearly 90% of Muslim outbound travel in 2019; they now account for just 77%. Destinations can no longer rely solely on a few familiar markets; the traveler base is broadening and evolving. Second, 80% of travelers now incorporate AI tools during their travel planning, shifting behavior from active search to delegating decision-making to AI agents. Destinations without digitized, AI-optimized, Muslim-friendly amenities risk becoming invisible at the critical moment of decision-making, regardless of on-the-ground offerings.
Why look at receipts and economic value, not just arrivals?
Arrivals are simply a headcount metric. According to GMTI 2026, annual expenditure by Muslim travelers is projected to reach USD 310 billion by 2030. This is the figure that truly drives job creation, SME revenue, and infrastructure investment. Destinations can increase arrivals but still underperform in value capture if they do not convert visits into higher per-trip spend through offerings such as halal dining, accommodation, retail, and unique experiences.
What separates strong performers from those catching up, per GMTI 2026?
Malaysia maintains the #1 position with a score of 82, up 3 points, reinforcing its leadership. Indonesia is the standout mover, climbing 3 points to share the #2 spot with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, rising from 5th place. Conversely, the UAE fell four positions to 6th, with Oman and Jordan also dropping. The trend is clear: destinations that continuously invest in service upgrades and digital infrastructure advance, while those relying on past reputations fall behind, even if they started from a strong position.
How are digital payments and travel tech changing how destinations serve Muslim travelers?
Technology has evolved from being a convenience to a critical competitive differentiator. Biometric border processes, e-visas, and AI-powered concierges are now baseline expectations for travelers. The deeper shift is toward "algorithm-ready visibility": as AI agents increasingly make travel decisions on behalf of users, destinations must ensure their halal dining, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly accommodations are structured as data that AI systems can easily find and trust. This year, we introduced our AI Recommendation Readiness Auditor (AIRA) to help services assess and optimize their AI visibility.
Malaysia is already strong — what should it focus on next for higher receipts?
Malaysia's next challenge is to increase yield. With its score gain cementing its lead, the focus now should be on increasing spend per visitor, especially in premium and niche segments such as halal gastronomy, wellness, and family travel. It is also essential that Malaysia's digital presence evolves alongside the growing trend of AI-led trip planning, ensuring the country remains the default recommendation, not just the default reputation.
What's the one message from GMTI 2026 for tourism businesses and policymakers?
Muslim travel has fully transitioned from a niche segment to a mainstream economic engine: 196 million arrivals in 2025, projected to reach 262 million and USD 310 billion in spend by 2030. The key competitive question is no longer whether to serve this market, but whether your services are visible and discoverable, particularly as AI increasingly mediates traveler decisions. Destinations that treat digital visibility and infrastructure as core strategy will capture a disproportionate share of this growth, while those viewing it as a checklist risk being overlooked, regardless of their on-the-ground facilities.
Boilerplates
About Mastercard
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About CrescentRating
CrescentRating (Crescentrating Pte. Ltd.) is the leading authority on Halal travel and tourism. The company uses insights, industry intelligence, lifestyle, behavior and research on the needs of the Muslim traveler to deliver authoritative guidance on all aspects of Halal travel to organisations across the globe. Founded in 2008, CrescentRating services are used by every tier of the tourism industry, from government bodies and tourism agencies to hospitality service providers, to better serve the needs of the Muslim traveler. CrescentRating’s products and services include rating & accreditation, research & consultancy, training, and certification (CR Academy), industry reports, Halal-In-Travel conferences, HalalChefWorld program, destination marketing and content provisioning.