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MANILA, Philippines, May 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippines continues to strengthen its position as a rising Muslim-friendly destination in Asia, welcoming travelers from the Middle East and the wider Muslim world through a growing ecosystem of halal- and Muslim-friendly tourism experiences. This momentum is further complemented by the country's strong tourism and cultural ties with neighboring Muslim-majority countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Recently recognized by Mastercard-CrescentRating as a rising Muslim-friendly destination and ranked 8th among non-OIC destinations in the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), the Philippines continues to gain international recognition for its efforts in advancing halal- and Muslim-friendly tourism. Across the archipelago, travelers can now experience a growing range of accommodations, halal-certified dining establishments, cultural attractions, and tourism services designed to support the faith-based needs of Muslim travelers while offering authentic cultural and heritage experiences.
Beyond tourism infrastructure, the Philippines is also investing in workforce development, destination preparedness, and cultural awareness initiatives to strengthen the delivery of halal and Muslim-friendly tourism services nationwide. The Department of Tourism (DOT) continues to support this growth through the implementation of its Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishment (MFAE) Recognition Program across hotels and tourism establishments, while also encouraging halal certification among restaurants, accommodations, and tourism service providers throughout the country.
Growing Halal Travel Infrastructure and Experiences
Muslim-friendly tourism infrastructure continues to expand across the Philippines, supported by the DOT's nationwide halal tourism development initiatives. To date, the DOT has officially recognized 67 Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishments (MFAEs) across the country, reflecting the Philippines' continuing commitment to strengthening its halal and Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem. Leading this effort is Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the first hotel chain in the Philippines to achieve 100% MFAE recognition across all of its properties, further reinforcing the country's growing portfolio of Muslim-friendly accommodations.
Alongside infrastructure development, the Philippines also takes pride in strengthening the cultural awareness and preparedness of its tourism workforce. Through various training and capacity-building initiatives conducted by the DOT, an estimated 3,000 tourism frontliners and stakeholders nationwide have received specialized training on the fundamentals of halal, understanding Muslim travelers and guests, and the importance of culturally sensitive and respectful service. Among the country's leading destinations, Boracay continues to strengthen its position as a Muslim-friendly island destination through initiatives such as Marhaba Boracay, which features an 800-square-meter beach cove dedicated for Muslim families. Boracay, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, and Metro Manila continue to feature a growing number of halal-certified dining establishments, prayer facilities, and tourism services designed to support the needs and comfort of Muslim travelers.
Beyond accommodations and dining, the Philippines offers Muslim travelers opportunities to experience the country's rich cultural diversity through heritage tours, island and nature experiences, vibrant local communities, and visits to Islamic heritage sites across Mindanao. From pristine beaches and tropical islands to dynamic urban centers and cultural destinations, the country continues to position itself as a welcoming destination where Muslim travelers can enjoy meaningful journeys grounded in hospitality, inclusivity, and cultural understanding.
Strategic Engagement with Muslim Travel Markets
The Department of Tourism continues to strengthen its engagement with key Muslim travel markets, including the Middle East and neighboring Muslim-majority countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Through international promotions, tourism collaborations, targeted destination campaigns, and the Muslim-Friendly Travelogue of the Philippines, the country continues to highlight its expanding tourism offerings, accessibility, and commitment to inclusive travel experiences. The three-volume travelogue series showcases the Philippines through curated features on halal and local cuisine, diverse tourism destinations, and the country's growing Muslim-friendly tourism initiatives and experiences.
Direct connectivity from key international gateways to destinations such as Manila, Cebu, and Clark allows convenient access to the country's diverse tourism destinations, while domestic connectivity supports seamless multi-destination travel across the archipelago. As the global halal travel market continues to grow, the Philippines remains committed to offering travel experiences rooted in hospitality, cultural diversity, and respectful understanding of Muslim traditions and values.
For more information, visit the Department of Tourism Philippines' official website tourism.gov.ph.
Facebook - DOT Philippines | Instagram | X | Tiktok | Youtube
MANILA, Philippines, May 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippines continues to strengthen its position as a rising Muslim-friendly destination in Asia, welcoming travelers from the Middle East and the wider Muslim world through a growing ecosystem of halal- and Muslim-friendly tourism experiences. This momentum is further complemented by the country's strong tourism and cultural ties with neighboring Muslim-majority countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Recently recognized by Mastercard-CrescentRating as a rising Muslim-friendly destination and ranked 8th among non-OIC destinations in the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), the Philippines continues to gain international recognition for its efforts in advancing halal- and Muslim-friendly tourism. Across the archipelago, travelers can now experience a growing range of accommodations, halal-certified dining establishments, cultural attractions, and tourism services designed to support the faith-based needs of Muslim travelers while offering authentic cultural and heritage experiences.
Beyond tourism infrastructure, the Philippines is also investing in workforce development, destination preparedness, and cultural awareness initiatives to strengthen the delivery of halal and Muslim-friendly tourism services nationwide. The Department of Tourism (DOT) continues to support this growth through the implementation of its Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishment (MFAE) Recognition Program across hotels and tourism establishments, while also encouraging halal certification among restaurants, accommodations, and tourism service providers throughout the country.
Growing Halal Travel Infrastructure and Experiences
Muslim-friendly tourism infrastructure continues to expand across the Philippines, supported by the DOT's nationwide halal tourism development initiatives. To date, the DOT has officially recognized 67 Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishments (MFAEs) across the country, reflecting the Philippines' continuing commitment to strengthening its halal and Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem. Leading this effort is Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the first hotel chain in the Philippines to achieve 100% MFAE recognition across all of its properties, further reinforcing the country's growing portfolio of Muslim-friendly accommodations.
Alongside infrastructure development, the Philippines also takes pride in strengthening the cultural awareness and preparedness of its tourism workforce. Through various training and capacity-building initiatives conducted by the DOT, an estimated 3,000 tourism frontliners and stakeholders nationwide have received specialized training on the fundamentals of halal, understanding Muslim travelers and guests, and the importance of culturally sensitive and respectful service. Among the country's leading destinations, Boracay continues to strengthen its position as a Muslim-friendly island destination through initiatives such as Marhaba Boracay, which features an 800-square-meter beach cove dedicated for Muslim families. Boracay, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, and Metro Manila continue to feature a growing number of halal-certified dining establishments, prayer facilities, and tourism services designed to support the needs and comfort of Muslim travelers.
Beyond accommodations and dining, the Philippines offers Muslim travelers opportunities to experience the country's rich cultural diversity through heritage tours, island and nature experiences, vibrant local communities, and visits to Islamic heritage sites across Mindanao. From pristine beaches and tropical islands to dynamic urban centers and cultural destinations, the country continues to position itself as a welcoming destination where Muslim travelers can enjoy meaningful journeys grounded in hospitality, inclusivity, and cultural understanding.
Strategic Engagement with Muslim Travel Markets
The Department of Tourism continues to strengthen its engagement with key Muslim travel markets, including the Middle East and neighboring Muslim-majority countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Through international promotions, tourism collaborations, targeted destination campaigns, and the Muslim-Friendly Travelogue of the Philippines, the country continues to highlight its expanding tourism offerings, accessibility, and commitment to inclusive travel experiences. The three-volume travelogue series showcases the Philippines through curated features on halal and local cuisine, diverse tourism destinations, and the country's growing Muslim-friendly tourism initiatives and experiences.
Direct connectivity from key international gateways to destinations such as Manila, Cebu, and Clark allows convenient access to the country's diverse tourism destinations, while domestic connectivity supports seamless multi-destination travel across the archipelago. As the global halal travel market continues to grow, the Philippines remains committed to offering travel experiences rooted in hospitality, cultural diversity, and respectful understanding of Muslim traditions and values.
For more information, visit the Department of Tourism Philippines' official website tourism.gov.ph.
Facebook - DOT Philippines | Instagram | X | Tiktok | Youtube
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The Philippines Sets a New Standard in Muslim-Friendly Tourism
SINGAPORE, May 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hammerspace, the high-performance data platform for AI, today announced an exclusive strategic partnership with Secuvy across the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together best-in-class AI data filtering and classification to enable enterprises to confidently scale AI initiatives.
As organizations across Asia-Pacific accelerate investments in artificial intelligence, they face a critical challenge: how to unify fragmented data environments while maintaining strict security, privacy, and regulatory compliance. This collaboration between Hammerspace and Secuvy directly addresses this gap, delivering a secure, AI-ready data foundation that enables enterprises to move faster without compromising control.
By combining Hammerspace's automated data orchestration with Secuvy's "Data-First" data intelligence and automated classification capabilities, the joint solution delivers a secure, AI-ready data foundation across on-premises, hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Powered by the Hammerspace Data Platform, organizations can instantly access and orchestrate data wherever it resides, eliminating silos without the need for costly data movement or duplication. This enables enterprises to overcome key AI adoption challenges, from infrastructure complexity to protecting sensitive data and intellectual property. The result is a unified approach that provides real-time visibility, enforces consistent security policies, and ensures compliance with evolving regional regulations, thus bridging existing infrastructure with future-ready, secure AI capabilities.
"This exclusive partnership with Secuvy reinforces Hammerspace's commitment to helping enterprises unlock the full value of their data for AI and high-performance workloads," said Jeff Lebold, Vice President, Hammerspace Asia. "Together, we are delivering a differentiated solution that uniquely combines data accessibility, security, and governance, purpose-built for the complex regulatory and operational landscape of Asia-Pacific."
Secuvy's platform enhances the joint offering with automated data discovery, classification, and protection at scale, enabling organizations to identify and secure sensitive data across distributed environments. Generating and maintaining a living data "bill of materials" transforms how organizations approach governance and compliance, turning blind spots into actionable intelligence. Integrated with Hammerspace Data Platform, customers can intelligently orchestrate data while maintaining strict control over data privacy, sovereignty, and compliance requirements.
"Enterprises can no longer afford to use the wrong data when building their AI pipelines," said Mike Seashols, CEO, Secuvy. "Our exclusive partnership with Hammerspace delivers a unified approach to data intelligence, enabling organizations to optimize AI data processing and accelerate AI adoption. Together, we are launching this partnership to bring our joint-value across Asia-Pacific,"
The joint solution is particularly impactful for industries with stringent data governance requirements, including financial services, healthcare, public sector and telecommunications. It supports regional data sovereignty mandates by giving organizations full control over where and how data is stored, accessed, and processed. The solution is available from May 1, 2026.
Under this exclusive agreement, Hammerspace and Secuvy will collaborate closely on go-to-market initiatives, joint customer engagements, and regional expansion, bringing a differentiated, enterprise-grade solution to key markets across the Asia-Pacific region.
About Hammerspace
Hammerspace is the high-performance data platform built to simplify and optimize AI infrastructure at scale. It makes all your data immediately accessible – anywhere across on-premises and cloud environments – without copying or migrating data into new silos. By integrating with existing storage, networking, and applications, Hammerspace creates a unified, high-speed data backbone for AI, enabling organizations to accelerate every stage of the AI pipeline while eliminating data silos.
About Secuvy
Secuvy is the Data Intelligence Platform that ensures your data is AI-ready, delivering only the right data to reduce risk, lower costs, and accelerate time to market. Secuvy filters, classifies and maintains your data for governance, compliance, sensitivity, geography, and IP - so only appropriate, sanitized data feeds every AI pipeline.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Hammerspace and Secuvy AI Expand Partnership to Address AI Data Clarity Challenges Across Asia-Pacific
