Maxim Protasov, the head of the Russian Quality Authority, announced the launch of “Muslim-friendly” tourism services, indicating that the trial period for the system will last for 6 months before drawing conclusions regarding the most suitable methods for Muslim tourists.
Protasov stated on the sidelines of the Russia-Islamic World Forum in Kazan: “This week we launched a federal accreditation system ‘Muslim-friendly’ that can be issued to restaurants, hotels, conference venues, exhibitions, fuel stations, and medical establishments.”
He continued, “The essence of the system is that any retail outlet – whether a restaurant or a hotel – if a guest arrives and says they are Muslim and need a special service, this service must be provided. Specifically, there should be a prayer rug and all accompanying details like the Quran in the room where the guest will stay, and alcohol should be removed from the mini-bar, with no prohibited dishes on the menu.”
Protasov added, “It is planned to issue around 100 certificates this year for restaurants, hotels, conferences, exhibitions, and other facilities. We were guided by the best international practices in developing the standard.”
He explained that there is already an agreement with markets, travel companies, and search engines that restaurants and outlets that have passed the certification will be distinguished by a special “Muslim-friendly” mark.
Protasov praised the role played by the Halal Standards Committee under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan in establishing the certification issuance system.
He said, “Ideally, a separate tourism portal or a Muslim-friendly mobile application could appear, where any guest in the country or Muslim could plan their own route and travel around Russia in a way that allows them to visit only those establishments and places.”