According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, more than 1 million foreign visitors came to Japan in July, partly due to the government's decision to ease visa requirements for tourists from Southeast Asian countries.
Source/Credit: The Asahi Shimbun
By Kazuki Kimura | August 25, 2013
IZUMISANO, Osaka Prefecture--Kansai International Airport is planning to expand services to meet the needs of Muslim travelers.
With an increasing numbers of visitors to Japan from Asian Muslim nations like Indonesia and Malaysia, airport officials said at an Aug. 23 news conference they will increase the number of airport prayer rooms, restaurants that serve halal meals and other services to accommodate followers of Islam.
“We are planning to become Japan’s first Muslim-friendly airport,” said Akihisa Tabe, general manager of the retail management and commercial marketing department at New Kansai International Airport Co., the airport operator.
The airport will open two new prayer rooms by the end of March 2014, adding to the existing room in a terminal building. The floor area will be expanded from its present 30 square meters to 270 square meters. The new prayer rooms will be equipped with faucets for users to cleanse their hands and feet before prayers.
Although more than 1,000 visitors use the current prayer room each year, many have to wash their feet at the sink in the restroom before entering the room.
Mindful that Muslims have dietary restrictions, the airport plans to increase halal meals, the airport operator said.
it will start serving halal meals at waiting rooms in September, while restaurants in the airport will increase their offerings of halal meals conforming to Islamic law.
A Sanuki udon noodle restaurant in a terminal building was certified as serving halal meals in July.
Sixteen restaurants in the airport building will have a menu compatible with the Islamic diet that forbids pork and alcohol by November.
Behind the effort to enhance Muslim-friendly services is the rapid growth in the number of travelers from Southeast Asian countries.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, more than 1 million foreign visitors came to Japan in July, partly due to the government's decision to ease visa requirements for tourists from Southeast Asian countries.
During the first seven months of 2013, a total of 73,300 Indonesian visitors, up 43.1 percent over the same period in 2012, arrived in Japan, and 81,400 travelers, up 17.5 percent, came from Malaysia.
Kansai International Airport also saw about a 70-percent increase in Indonesian visitors in 2012 over 2011.
The number is expected to rise further due to an increase in flights by low-cost carriers, the Kansai airport operator said.
Read original post here: Japan: Kansai airport to increase Muslim-friendly services
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.