At-Thohir Mosque and Km 88 Rest Area Become Pilot Projects for International Muslim-Friendly Tourism
The West Java provincial government has designated the Km 88 toll road rest area and the At-Thohir Mosque in Depok City as a pilot project for developing tourism infrastructure that meets international Muslim-friendly standards. Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan stated that tourism can no longer be managed in the old way, but must be built with strong data, appropriate policies, broad collaboration, and an inclusive approach. He explained that with 97 per cent of the population being Muslim, West Java has a significant urgency to overhaul its tourism management to capture the global market, especially travellers from Malaysia, Singapore, and the Middle East. Through the integration of the National Tourism Development Index (IPKN) data, the provincial government can now map tourism investments based on accurate and verified data. Head of the West Java Tourism and Culture Office, Iendra Sofyan, explained that this tactical step was taken in conjunction with the launch of the Smiling West Java-Muslim Friendly Tourism (SWJ-MFT) Award 2026 and the publication of West Java’s IPKN achievements at the At-Thohir Mosque in Depok City. Sofyan detailed that the project at Km 88 Rest Area will focus on standardising worship facilities and strictly curating halal culinary offerings. Meanwhile, At-Thohir Mosque is projected and designated as one of the main religious tourism attractions in West Java through digital service interventions. He added that the activity is not merely an awards event, but a momentum to improve standardisation through intensive hospitality mentoring and training workshops. To expand this ecosystem, the SWJ-MFT Award 2026 opens a standardisation competition covering eight operational categories: Muslim-Friendly Tourism Regency/City, Muslim-Friendly Hotel, Muslim-Friendly Restaurant, Muslim-Friendly Natural Attraction, Muslim-Friendly Cultural Heritage Attraction, Muslim-Friendly Man-made Attraction, Muslim-Friendly Tourism Village, and Muslim-Friendly Mall.