At this era of globalization has led to cultural diversity and varying dietary requirements gaining significant importance in various industries. One of the diversity in Southeast Asia that we can see is on religion that it has.
According to the official website of Visual Capitalist, Southeast Asian countries predominantly follow one of three major religions: Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. More than 85% of Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country is Muslim. Thus helping Islam become the majority religion of Southeast Asia as a whole.
One crucial aspect for Islam community is the concept of Halal. Halal that means "permissible", which considered Halal-based when it does not contain prohibited materials, ingredients, or unlawful methods based on Sharia law. Halal now becomes the new emerging trend in the global world.
As halal industry trends continue to thrive, these Southeast Asian nations, with their existing experience and strategic positions make the halal concept become such a revolution. The needs of halal product and lifestyles are well-placed to opportunities for growth and collaboration. How these halal concept become a culture in Southeast Asia? just check this article out to know more about it!
Over 40 per cent of Southeast Asia’s population are Muslim
Southeast Asia region has many countries that are heterogenic with rich diversity of culture, religion, and custom. Based on The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey Report that was published by the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, over 40 per cent of Southeast Asia’s population are Muslim.
These Muslim-majority countries are Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia. The Halal concept is admittedly an important aspect for Muslim community, but it is not an obligation and should not be practiced at the expense of good community relations.
For these Muslim communities, maintaining good relations with their non-Muslim neighbours is crucial. It’s also crucial on fulfilling the need of Sharia law for region that has majority population of Muslim, for thus its affect policy making within the region.
Governments have actively helped shape Halal tourism
One of the keys that move economy is not only trade, but also the tourism sector. Some governments in Southeast Asian countries which had Muslim-majority population had actively helped shape around halal tourism from production, trade, regulation, consumption and other needs for Muslim culture.
As example Indonesia, Indonesian government is not a bystander, but a proactive architect of halal excellence. Streamlined certification processes, and ambitious national targets like becoming the world's leading halal producer by 2024, paint a clear picture of unwavering support.
Many sector from trade to tourism could support the development of a country and also one of the strategic factors in order to increase economics, foreign exchange and also incomes. Halal product is a major requirement for Muslim consumer, and the halal certification become a crucial factor for Muslims to feel safe on consuming the product.
The halal certification for Muslim consumer culture
Halal product is a major requirement for Muslim consumer. There have been many countries in Southeast Asia although not a majority Muslim population, began to encourage the halal certification.
These halal certification is a key factor to ensuring the halal concept for Muslim consumer culture.The halal certification’s product will give a positive response on Muslim travellers and has become a new policy to promoting tourism sector for Muslim tourist.
Halal trends take the multicultural societies in Southeast Asia
The halal trends come from Islamic value and fulfilling the need of Muslim lifestyle according to their religion’s value. Islamic values and political interest have come to influence on many processes such as production, trade, regulation, consumption, entrepreneurship, and many more.
Southeast Asia as a site of significant and diverse integration of Islam has stimulated interest in halal product and Muslim material culture more broadly. These revolution and development of Halal culture not only consumed by Muslims but also by non Muslims, make these trends take the multicultural societies in Southeast Asia.
Halal product and lifestyle are key factor on fulfiilment the need for Muslim consumer in Southeast Asia. The halal certification also become crucial things on gaining trust for Muslim consumers in the region and for Muslim tourist. These halal concept from Muslim material culture, most prominently halal foods and lifestyle which offers goodness are become the trends for multicultural societies in Southeast Asia.
References:
https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-State-of-SEA-2024.pdf
https://fulcrum.sg/globalised-halal-markets-and-middle-class-southeast-asia-the-muslim-piety-economy/
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/map-largest-religious-group-southeast-asian-country/
https://kneopen.com/Kne-Social/article/view/2323/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377535274_Halal_Indonesia_A_Crossroads_in_the_Making
https://cejiss.org/images/issue_articles/2019-volume-13-issue-4/14-securitisation-of-halal-issue-in-southeast-asia-region.pdfhttps://cejiss.org/images/issue_articles/2019-volume-13-issue-4/14-securitisation-of-halal-issue-in-southeast-asia-region.pdf
https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/inclar-19/125935432
https://www.researchinindonesia.com/insight/global-halal-industry-landscape
https://www.searanetwork.org/post/exploring-the-potential-of-green-halal-tourism-for-sustainable-travel
https://www.d8aspring.com/eye-on-asia/the-halal-revolution-how-indonesias-influence-is-shaping-global-markets
https://fulcrum.sg/evolution-of-the-halal-industry-and-lifestyle-in-southeast-asia/
