Authors : Suhaiza Zailani, Azizah Omar and Simon Kopong
Abstract: Performance of the hotel industry is very significant contribution towards economic growth of the tourism sector. The preparations of Halal food and hygienic accommodations will give an added competitiveness advantage to the hotels in attracting the local and foreign tourists, especially those from the Middle East, West Asia and other Islamic countries. Muslim tourists, particularly from West Asia are increasingly sensitive and wanted access to more sophisticated holiday destinations and Halal dining. Nevertheless, statistics from JAKIM has shown that only 101 hotels all around Malaysia have applied and secured the Halal certificate from JAKIM, MAIN and JAIN while the rest still not doing so. It is therefore will be important to understand the reasons why most of the hoteliers are non-compliance to halal. From the exploratory study randomly conducted to 8 non-certified halal hotels, it is discovered that most of the managers are not well understood the importance of halal certification. They still can have the successful business without being certified with halal hotels as majority of their customers are non-Muslims. This results indicate that the perceived of benefits towards halal certification could be as one of the factors that influenced them not to apply for the certification. It is important for the Malaysian government to enhance the hoteliers understanding on the outcomes of having the halal certification so that the acceptance level can be improved.
Suhaiza Zailani, Azizah Omar and Simon Kopong, 2011. An Exploratory Study on the Factors Influencing the Non-Compliance to Halal among Hoteliers in Malaysia. International Business Management, 5: 1-12.