Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is promoting Muslim-friendly tourism to strengthen its Islamic economy, attract high-quality investment, and enhance global competitiveness, Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said.Speaking at the “Driving Indonesia's Halal Industry Competitiveness & Global Export Readiness” event in Jakarta on Wednesday, Puspa said Muslim-friendly tourism supports tourism competitiveness while contributing to national economic development.”This is an effort to build an inclusive, competitive, and sustainable ecosystem,” she said in a statement released on Thursday.Puspa said inclusive tourism policies are a cornerstone of national development, with Muslim-friendly services designed to raise service standards without changing local culture or destination identity.She stressed that such services are complementary and aim to ensure destinations remain open and comfortable for all travelers, regardless of background.”We are not changing the character of the destinations. The strength of Indonesian tourism lies in its traditions, culture, and local wisdom,” Puspa added.She highlighted the sector's growth potential, noting the global Muslim population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2035.By 2030, the number of Muslim travelers worldwide is expected to exceed 245 million, with total spending estimated at around US$235 billion.Indonesia has a strong demographic advantage, with about 248 million Muslims, representing roughly 87 percent of its population.The country accounts for about 11.3 percent of the global Muslim population and around 86 percent of Muslims in the ASEAN region.This demographic strength is spread across 19 provinces where Muslims make up more than 90 percent of residents, creating a natural ecosystem for Muslim-friendly tourism development.To reinforce its position, the Ministry of Tourism is working with other institutions and partners to launch the 2025 Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI).The index measures provincial readiness to develop Muslim-friendly tourism based on international standards. Fifteen provinces have been designated as priorities, with Aceh and Banten receiving special recognition.The ministry is also strengthening halal certification in cooperation with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), facilitating the issuance of 14,694 halal certificates in 391 tourism villages.In addition, the ministry, together with the National Development Planning Ministry and Bank Indonesia, is formulating national service standards to ensure consistency in Muslim-friendly tourism services nationwide.