The The Effect of Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT) on the Number of Foreign Tourists

Abstract

Introduction: This research discusses the effect of Muslim-Friendly Tourism (MFT) on the number of foreign tourists. MFT indicators are selected by the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) variables which is published by Mastercard-Crescent Rating every year. From the GMTI variable, five MFT indicators variables were taken in the period 2015 to 2019.

Methods: The study sampled 63 countries listed in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) continuously over a five-year period, from 2019 to 2023, resulting in 315 observational data sets. The analytical tool used in this study was panel data regression using Stata-17 software.

Results: The results found thera are two of the five selected GMTI independent variables partially has a significant effect on the number of foreign tourists. The two variables are Safe Travel Environment (X1) with a coefficient value of - 0.41534, and Dining Options and Assurance (X2) with the coefficient value of 0.137116.

Conclusion and suggestion: The five selected independent variables did not have a significant partial effect on foreign tourist visits, although they simultaneously showed a significant effect. This result supports the findings of previous research, which also showed that the selected variables did not have a significant effect in OIC countries. This is in contrast to Asia Pacific countries, where several variables had a significant effect.

Keywords: Tourism, Muslim, GMTI