An Analysis of Halal Hotel Attributes in Brunei

Abstract

The exponential expansion of halal tourism has heightened the demand for tourist locations to provide halal items as a service to cater to the Muslim market. Halal hotels were subsequently introduced because of the explosive growth of halal tourism. It presents the prospect of having a lodging facility that complies with Shariah criteria. Hence, this study aims to examine the attributes of hotels in Brunei. To categorise a hotel as a halal hotel, it must meet features outlined by Shariah principles, including the prohibition of alcohol, the provision of halal food only, the availability of prayer mats, clearly marked qibla directions, and the avoidance of inappropriate entertainment. The study used a web-based research method to examine the features of halal hotels on hotel websites. It also applied a qualitative method by conducting open-ended interviews with hotel managers of two hotels selected from the web-based research in Brunei to evaluate their perspectives on halal hotel attributes. The analysis of hotel websites and hotel managers’ perspectives on Halal hotel attributes in Brunei revealed that the hotels meet the features or attributes of Halal hotels. As Brunei Darussalam continues to position itself as a critical player in the Halal tourism market, the research findings have a dual impact on academic discussions and practical applications for improving halal hotel management techniques. Ultimately, the study is a valuable foundation for future research endeavours to refine further and expand our understanding of the dynamic interplay between Halal tourism concepts and hotel management practices.