Training Workshop on the Developing Muslim Friendly Tourism in Suriname and Guyana
Date: 15-17 July 2019
Venue: Paramaribo - Suriname

Within the framework of the COMCEC Project Funding Mechanism, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT), in cooperation with SESRIC and the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), organised a training workshop on the ‘Developing Muslim Friendly Tourism in Suriname and Guyana’ on 15-17 July 2019 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Senior-level experts, policy-makers from OIC Countries, practitioners from Suriname and Guyana, and relevant OIC institutions attended the workshop.

The aim of the workshop was to introduce the basic concepts on Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT), raise awareness on the MFT services provided in Suriname and Guyana, and share best practices from across the OIC Countries.

During the workshop, SESRIC delivered three technical presentations on the “Importance of Muslim Friendly Tourism”, “Efforts of OIC and Strategic Roadmap for Development of Islamic Tourism in OIC Member Countries”, and “Recommendations for Suriname and Guyana on Muslim Friendly Tourism”.

The site visits in Paramaribo to the Mosque in Kaizerstraat and Openluchtmuseum in Fort Nieuw Amsterdam allowed participants to get a first-hand experience regarding the Islamic culture and heritage of Suriname that could be used in marketing and branding of some MFT services.

Although Muslim Friendly Tourism services have attracted significant interest across the globe with many stakeholders offering products and services according to the Islamic principles, MFT remains a new concept in Latin America, especially in Suriname and Guyana. Nevertheless, these two OIC Member States have great potential to attract a significant number of Muslim tourists from continental America, Africa, Europe and Asia.