Deputy Governor Erwan Urges Districts and Cities to Develop Muslim-Friendly Tourism

The West Java Provincial Government has launched the Smiling West Java-Muslim Friendly Tourism (SWJ-MFT) Award 2026 to encourage district and city governments and businesses to implement Muslim-friendly tourism standards. The event was held alongside the launch of the West Java National Tourism Development Index (IPKN) data portal. This year, the SWJ-MFT Award features eight categories: Best Muslim-Friendly Regency/City, Best Muslim-Friendly Hotel, Best Muslim-Friendly Restaurant, Best Muslim-Friendly Natural Attraction, Best Muslim-Friendly Cultural Heritage Attraction, Best Muslim-Friendly Man-Made Attraction, Best Muslim-Friendly Tourism Village, and Best Muslim-Friendly Mall. Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan expressed hope that the initiative would run smoothly and deliver positive impacts for Muslim-friendly tourism development in West Java. He stated that tourism today cannot be managed in old ways but must be built on strong data, precise policies, broad collaboration, and an inclusive approach. He noted that the SWJ-MFT and IPKN initiatives complement each other by strengthening the Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem and enhancing standardised, verified, and integrated tourism data management. Erwan highlighted West Java’s extraordinary tourism potential, including its natural beauty, rich culture, welcoming communities, and continuously developing infrastructure, which he said must be managed intelligently. He stressed that potential alone is insufficient without a system to direct it towards competitive tourism. The launch of the IPKN repository, he added, is a crucial step to ensure tourism development is based on strong, accurate, and accountable data, enabling more precise planning, effective programme control, objective evaluation, and convincing investment opportunities. Head of the West Java Tourism and Culture Office, Iendra Sofyan, explained that the SWJ-MFT Award aims to improve Muslim-friendly standardisation of facilities and infrastructure in tourist destinations. He described it not merely as an awards event but as a momentum to enhance standards through intensive mentoring and hospitality training workshops. The office is also developing innovations in Muslim-friendly tourism, improving accessibility, and conducting socialisation through mass media and social media publications. The provincial government is collaborating with tourism associations to compile travel guides and exclusive tour packages designed for Muslim travellers’ comfort. These efforts are deemed necessary as 97 per cent of West Java’s population is Muslim, and many foreign tourists from Malaysia, Singapore, and Middle Eastern countries require Muslim-friendly tourism services. Plans also include developing religious tourism, with the At-Thohir Mosque to be designated as a religious tourism attraction, and special arrangements at the Km 88 Rest Area to meet Muslim-friendly tourism standards in facilities, infrastructure, and halal cuisine, alongside digitalisation innovations. At the same event, the Ministry of Tourism’s Acting Deputy for Destination and Infrastructure Development, Reza Pahlevi, praised the provincial government’s launch, saying it could inspire other regions on how to create good destinations, particularly for Muslim travellers. Depok Deputy Mayor Chandra Rahmansyah affirmed that Muslim-friendly tourism is not about restricting tourism but about providing security and comfort for travellers, while strengthening superior, beautiful, safe, comfortable, inclusive, and world-class destinations in West Java.