CrescentRating, a specialist in halal travel, has become the first Singapore-based company to be admitted as an affiliate member of UN Tourism following its 26th General Assembly in Riyadh in November 2025.
CrescentRating chief executive and founder Fazal Bahardeen told TTG Asia that being admitted as an affiliate member, a category that includes companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com, JTB, Klook and Traveloka, adds to the company’s “credibility”.
There are around 500 affiliate members globally, forming what Fazal described as a “strong networking platform” focused on knowledge exchange, collaboration and tourism development aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
He said membership provides access to events attended by governments and companies, as well as opportunities to propose projects supported by UN Tourism under its Programme of Work (PoW) for affiliate members.
PoW proposal categories include conferences and forums, workshops and training, reports and publications, and services led by affiliate members. Priority areas cover institutional development, data and product development, sustainability and inclusion, investment and innovation, and workforce development.
With CrescentRating formally sanctioned for halal tourism activities in 2026 and 2027, the company has received PoW approval for a global halal gastronomy initiative, the Halal in Travel Gastronomy Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Johor Bahru in October. Fazal said discussions are ongoing with UN Tourism regarding support for the project.
“Another approved PoW is the release of a glossary for halal tourism, to be released at the sixth Halal in Travel Global Summit, taking place in Singapore between June 9 and 11,” Fazal added.
Following its admission to UN Tourism and the approval of PoW projects, CrescentRating plans to expand its current workforce of 32 employees, with a focus on strengthening its research team of four.
He added that the company is also preparing a joint report with Mastercard on halal travel and sports tourism, due for release in early February.
