Taiwan Halal Tourism Industry: Policy and Practice

Though still at the early stage of development, Taiwan has shown achievement. This good performance might be influenced by supportive tourism policy. Two main areas have become the focus of the development, namely accommodation, and restaurant. This study will investigate policy and practice of halal tourism development in Taiwan. The policy that develops or promotes tourism is supposed to result maximum social and economic benefit to nation, region or locality. Many scholars have investigated halal tourism industry development but limited research has been done for the case of Taiwan. This research uses qualitative approach by using interview. Data was collected through desk and field research in Taipei and Taichung. Structured interviews with some stakeholders were conducted. Analysis is done descriptively by using policy approach. The research found that in developing the halal tourism industry in Taiwan, there is no explicit halal industry development policy and exact plan of action how to support the policy implementation. In practice, Taiwan’s efforts to promote halal certification and to create Muslim-friendly environment. Five categories of halal certification have been issued by four different halal certified bodies. A few numbers of Taiwan culinary becomes challenge to develop Taiwan halal tourism. subsidy program to promote the Muslim friendly restaurant was not well informed to the businessman.