A new comprehensive research finds out the top performing Muslim travel destinations in 2017. In 2016, the estimated total Muslim visitor arrivals were 121 million, up from 117 in 2015, representing 10 percent of the entire travel economy. This is expected to grow to 156 million travelers in 2020, spending over US$220 billion.
According to the most comprehensive research released on the global Muslim travel market, The Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2017, announced the top ranking countries for global Muslim travel. The study ranks top countries of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well as non-OIC.
Malaysia and Singapore continue to top the list of OIC and non-OIC markets for the third consecutive year.
Singapore retained its pole position for the non-OIC destinations, with Thailand, the UK, South Africa and Hong Kong rounding up the top five. Japan moved up two places to take sixth spot with Spain entering the top 10 for the first time.
Overall Top 10 Destinations (OIC & Non-OIC)
2017 2016
Rank Destination Score Destination Score
1 Malaysia 82.5 Malaysia 81.9
2 United Arab Emirates 76.9 United Arab Emirates 74.7
3 Indonesia 72.6 Turkey 73.9
4 Turkey 72.4 Indonesia 70.6
5 Saudi Arabia 71.4 Qatar 70.5
6 Qatar 70.5 Saudi Arabia 70.4
7 Morocco 68.1 Oman 70.3
8 Oman 67.9 Singapore 68.4
9 Bahrain 67.9 Morocco 68.3
10 Singapore 67.3 Jordan 65.4
Top 10 OIC Destinations
2017 2016
Rank Destination Score Destination Score
1 Malaysia 82.5 Malaysia 81.9
2 United Arab Emirates 76.9 United Arab Emirates 74.7
3 Indonesia 72.6 Turkey 73.9
4 Turkey 72.4 Indonesia 70.6
5 Saudi Arabia 71.4 Qatar 70.5
6 Qatar 70.5 Saudi Arabia 70.4
7 Morocco 68.1 Oman 70.3
8 Oman 67.9 Morocco 68.3
9 Bahrain 67.9 Jordan 65.4
10 Iran 66.8 Bahrain 65.3
Top 10 Non-OIC Destinations
2017 2016
Rank Destination Score Destination Score
1 Singapore 67.3 Singapore 68.4
2 Thailand 61.8 Thailand 59.5
3 United Kingdom 60.0 United Kingdom 59.0
4 South Africa 53.6 South Africa 53.1
5 Hong Kong 53.2 Hong Kong 53.0
6 Japan 52.8 France 51.6
7 Taiwan 52.4 Taiwan 50.1
8 France 52.1 Japan 49.1
9 Spain 48.8 Sri Lanka 49.0
10 United States 48.6 United States 48.9
