You guessed it. The Muslim travel market accounted for $145 billion of total international tourism spend in 2015, with the United States receiving a 24 percent share—or almost $35 billion—according to The Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism on the United States 2015 -2016 research paper.

“The United States benefits more from Muslim tourism than any other economy in the world in terms of direct GDP impact,” says Faeez Fadhillah, the co-founder and CEO of Salam Standard, which produced the paper. Launched in October 2015 from its offices near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Salam Standard is an online reference tool for Muslim travelers seeking accommodation that meets their faith-based needs–provisions such as prayer mats, halal food and the removal of alcohol from the hotel mini bar, for example.  (Earlier this year Fadhillah was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the “30 under 30” in Asia’s Retail & E-commerce sector.)

Previously, in 2013, Fadhillah and his partner, Juergen Gallistl, started Tripfez, which offers Muslim-friendly tour packages and advice about halal food, as well as a site that compares prices and features for 650,000 properties in some 83,000 destinations

With such numbers, Fadhillah says, the U.S. should therefore be looking for ways to boost its halal-friendly tourism offering and marketing it digitally to the fast-growing Muslim travel community, the research paper suggests in its executive summary.

Salam Standard’s executive summary of the impact of Muslim tourism on the US economy is one facet of a major Global Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism research paper. The full report, which is scheduled for release before the end of 2016, will provide a true global perspective of the growing importance of the Muslim travel sector.

Two key points raised by the paper are as follows:

—First, while the unique faith-based needs of Muslim travelers can vary according to country of origin, universal requirements include the availability of halal-certified food, the observance of prayer times and the absence of alcohol.­

—Second, the U.S. should also make information on its Muslim travel facilities and services more accessible to raise its profile as a halal-friendly destination. “Creating online resources, from websites and apps to digital marketing campaigns, is the way forward,” suggests Fadhlillah.

Fadhillah’s movement to serve the Muslim travel sector with innovative online resources–he calls it “Taqwa Tech”—has attracted attention from major media outlets including the BBC and CNBC, both of which are currently filming documentaries about his business. For more information, visit salamstandard.org.

Just announced by TripAdvisor are the results of its Attractions Trend Index, revealing the top 25 U.S. attractions that have seen the greatest increase in traveler interest this summer, based on year-over-year search activity on TripAdvisor. The Attractions Trend Index rankings were determined based on the percent increase in search sessions on TripAdvisor desktop and mobile for U.S. travelers between 2015 and 2016 for the period of May-July. Attractions were required to have a minimum of 30,000 sessions during the May-July 2016 period and at least four out of five bubbles on TripAdvisor to qualify.

 

Trip Advisor Attractions Trend Index 2016

U.S. Attraction	Reason to Go and What to Book	YoY Traffic Increase
1. One World Observatory – World Trade Center – New York City, New York	Popular new observatory that opened last May and offers breathtaking views from the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Travelers can book admission ahead on TripAdvisor for $32 per person. Since being listed on the site, there has been a 165% increase in bookings on TripAdvisor for the attraction.	340.70%
2. The Magnificent Mile – Chicago, Illinois	Thirteen-block stretch of downtown Chicago that draws travelers for its shopping, dining and entertainment. Visitors can take the Chicago Lakefront Neighborhoods Bicycle Tour for $48 to learn more about the Windy City.	118.00%
3. Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook – Gatlinburg, Tennessee	Secluded car pull-off area on the Gatlinburg Bypass offers scenic views of downtown Gatlinburg and the surrounding Smoky Mountains. There is no fee for stopping at the overlook.	112.50%
4. The Pearl District – Portland, Oregon	Trendy one-half square mile area of the city offers a variety of boutiques, galleries, coffee shops and restaurants. Travelers can explore the neighborhood and enjoy a beverage on thePortland Brewery Bike Tour – tickets start at $69 per person.	109.30%
5. Mount Bonnell – Austin, Texas	Beautiful hiking trail rewards intrepid travelers with panoramic views of Austin from nearly 800 feet above the city. Admission to the park is free.	109.20%
6. Newbury Street – Boston, Massachusetts	Upscale shopping, boutique stores and al fresco dining makes this one-mile stretch a must-see in Boston’s Back Bay. Travelers can take in this area and more through the Boston Duck Tours, starting at $40 per person.	108.10%
7. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee	Mile-long downhill ride lets patrons control their speed, appealing to thrill seekers and slow cruisers alike. Tickets range from $5 for children to $15 for adults.	107.60%
8. The Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tennessee	Iconic country music concert hall offers weekly shows and is celebrating its 90th year of operation. Travelers can go behind the scenes with the Grand Ole Opry House Backstage Tour – tickets start at $24 per person.	107.40%
9. Watkins Glen State Park – Watkins Glen, New York	Known for its eponymous race track, this park in New York’s Finger Lakes region offers outstanding hiking and features 19 waterfalls and more than 800 stone steps. Admission is $8 per vehicle.	96.40%
10. Jackson Square – New Orleans, Louisiana	Historic French Quarter landmark features a variety of street performers, vendors, food spots and the renowned St. Louis Cathedral. Travelers can explore the area with the New Orleans French Quarter Segway Tour, which starts at $65 per person.	89.90%
11. La Jolla Shores – La Jolla, California	Family-friendly beach boasts a full mile of white sands and turquoise waters. Beachgoers can try their hand at a variety of watersports and San Diego Surf Lessons is a popular option with sessions that start at $70 per person.	88.80%
12. 360 Chicago Observation Deck – Chicago, Illinois	Offers panoramic views of downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan from the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center. Tickets start at $20 per person and can be purchased on TripAdvisor ahead of time.	87.80%
13. Venice Canals Walkway – Los Angeles, California	Tranquil residential area walkway just a couple of blocks from bustling Venice Beach. A guided look at the neighborhood is available through the Electric Bicycle Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach – tickets start at $68 per person.	80.40%
14. Union Station – Denver, Colorado	Recently restored train station has stood as Lower Downtown Denver’s transportation hub for 100 years. Features a wide variety of dining and shopping and even a luxury hotel. Travelers can take in more of the city with a Best of Denver Private City Walking Tour, at $130 per person.	79.10%
15. Pier 39 – San Francisco, California	Sea lions, musical stairs and clam chowder can all be found at this bustling entertainment complex on the San Francisco Waterfront. Travelers can check out all of the area’s attractions with the PIER 39 Attraction Pass which starts at $109 per person and includes a ticket to the San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Tour.	68.60%
16. Disney Springs – Orlando, Florida	Formerly Downtown Disney, this expansive shopping, dining and entertainment center has re-branded and is currently undergoing renovations to soon debut four new “neighborhoods”: The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center.  Travelers can get a unique bird’s eye view of the area with an Orlando Helicopter Tour for $48 per person.	65.30%
17. Broadway – New York City, New York	Whether attending a show or just sightseeing, travelers will find plenty to do in New York’s exciting theater district. The NYC Walking Tour: Broadway History and Culture is a popular option for visitors looking to learn more about the area. Tickets start at $35 per person.	63.70%
18. The Grotto – National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother – Portland, Oregon	Peaceful Catholic sanctuary and botanical garden offers a place for quiet reflection away from the excitement of the city. Tickets for the Grotto’s Upper Level Garden range from $3-$6 per person.	63.30%
19. The Gondola at Heavenly – South Lake Tahoe, California	Breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range are seen from glass pods that ferry passengers to the summit of Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort. Tickets range from $22 for children to $46 for adults.	63.00%
20. Central Park – New York City, New York	Features more than 840 acres of green space in the middle of Manhattan’s concrete jungle. Travelers can check out the filming locations for various popular movies and shows with theCentral Park TV and Movie Sites Walking Tour – tickets start at $25 per person.	62.20%
21. Washington Park – Portland, Oregon	Popular park near downtown Portland is home to miles of hiking trails, multiple lush gardens, a children’s playground and more. Parking fees range from $1.60 per hour to $6.40 for a full day.	61.30%
22. Statue of Liberty – New York City, New York	Symbol of freedom on New York’s Ellis Island for 130 years, Lady Liberty offers stunning views of the city and travelers can learn about the island’s history on the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour for $59 per person.	59.00%
23. Fenway Park – Boston, Massachusetts	America’s oldest ballpark is home to the Red Sox and has hosted thousands of games and events since its opening in 1912. Tours of the park are available for $25 per person and include views from the fabled Green Monster.	58.90%
24. Bryant Park – New York City, New York	10-acre city park “office oasis” in mid-town Manhattan features a garden, skating rink, holiday shops, historic sculptures, dining and more.	58.80%
25. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood – Burbank, California	Entertaining tour takes travelers behind the scenes of some of today’s most popular TV shows and movies. Explore the studio’s sets and soundstages with the Warner Bros. Hollywood Studio Tour and Movie Stars’ Homes Tour. Tickets start at $126 per person.	57.70%

 

Just-released survey research results show that many Brits mistakenly name key tourist attractions, including Buckingham Palace and the Hollywood Sign, among the seven modern wonders of the world. This might be because, according to a second survey, their cognitive abilities are dimmed somewhat by their tendency to drink more when abroad.

Survey One: The online travel site icelolly.com asked 1,000 Brits to identify the ancient, modern and natural wonders of the world in a survey that produced shockingly poor results. Asked about how many wonders they think they had correctly identified,

—15 percent of Brits thought they had spotted 10 out of the 21 wonders,

—3 percent thought they had named all 21.

In reality, only 6 percent of people were able to identify all seven modern wonders, with large proportions of Brits missing Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Brazil (60 percent) and Petra in Jordan (67 percent) off the list.

—More than half (54 percent) mistakenly thought Stonehenge was one of the elite landmarks.

—32 percent of Brits thought the Empire State Building was on the list, and 40 percent thought the USA’s Statue of Liberty was included.

Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Mount Everest in Nepal.

Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe.

Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA.

Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Northern Lights.

Paricutin volcano in Mexico.

Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

Seven Modern Wonders of the World

Christ Redeemer: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Great Wall of China: China.

Machu Picchu: Peru.

Petra: Jordan.

Pyramid at Chichén Itzá: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Roman Colosseum: Rome, Italy.

Taj Mahal: Agra, India.

 

Seven Ancient Wonders of the World

Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

Colossus of Rhodes.

Lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt.

 

—In what must be a result of amazingly good marketing by U.S. destinations and travel suppliers, an astonishing 8 percent of the nation named Disney World Florida as a modern wonder of the world.

—Another 5 percent identified the elusive Area 51 as a modern wonder.

—Nearly one of eight Brits (12 percent) thought the Hollywood Sign was one of the noted destinations.

—5 percent of survey respondents thought the fictional land of Narnia was an ancient wonder of the world.

—20 percent of Brits also thought the mythical land of Atlantis makes the list.

Finally, only 4 percent of Brits were able to identify all seven natural wonders of the world, with less than a quarter recognizing the Harbor of Rio (11 percent), Aurora (17 percent) and Parícutin volcano (15 percent) as natural wonders. Another 12 percent were able to select all seven ancient wonders of the world,

 

Survey Two: The UL’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recently issued safety advice for stag and hen parties heading abroad this summer. The study came in the wake of episodes of drunk and rowdy behavior at airports and aboard aircraft.

The FCO cited a survey suggesting that 43 percent of British nationals are more likely to drink abroad than on other occasions and 52 percent of survey respondents admitted to doing something they later regretted after drinking abroad.

The poll also found: 6 percent had walked back to their resort or hotel alone or taken a dangerous shortcut; 11 percent had jumped into a pool while intoxicated; and 6 percent had tried to drive whilst drunk.

“Stag and hen parties can be great fun and a time for celebration, but travelers are more likely to take risks and get into trouble abroad if they have been drinking heavily,” said Cara Fortune, from the FCO’s Travel Aware team.