CrescentRating (CR), which provides Muslim-friendly travel ratings and accreditation services, has revamped its Muslim Travel Intent Tracker (MTIT) to deliver more detailed data.
Launched in 2021 to track post-pandemic recovery, the MTIT now addresses emerging market challenges, CEO Fazal Bahardeen told TTG Asia.
“In rapidly changing conditions, intent serves as an early warning signal. In response, we have fully revamped the MTIT, offering stakeholders a more comprehensive set of data and insights to support improved planning during these highly uncertain times.
“Tracking this score monthly during the current disruption gives a more accurate perspective than retrospective arrivals reports.”
Fazal noted that travel intent in April “definitely dropped”, although intent for travel within one to three months has risen slightly, possibly reflecting optimism that the Middle East conflict will ease.
He added that the four- to six-month outlook remains “pretty stable”, with “no change” in the seven- to 12-month timeframe.
“In volatile markets, timing shifts often signal whether travellers are advancing, delaying, or cancelling trips.
“Destination signals indicate where Muslim travellers intend to travel in the near future. As demand responds to disruptions, these signals reveal early shifts as travellers choose destinations perceived as safer.”
Fazal also highlighted the importance of calendar factors in Muslim travel patterns.
“Calendar context is often overlooked by global travel intelligence tools. Ramadan shifts 10 to 11 days earlier each year, while Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha reshape travel patterns in ways generic holiday overlays do not capture.
“Hajj season also compresses GCC outbound travel windows, and the MTIT dashboard reflects these factors in travel intent.”
For destinations and national tourism organisations, the MTIT helps answer whether Muslim travel intent towards a market is strengthening or weakening, and over what timeframe. With current intent data, this becomes actionable, Fazal stated.
For hotels, intent timing can guide inventory decisions. If the one- to three-month window is weaker than last year but six- to 12-month intent remains steady, planning requirements differ.
Fazal said: “Revenue teams that identify these shifts early can adjust pricing, staffing, and Muslim-friendly service offerings appropriately.
“For operators, OTAs and aggregators, MTIT destination signals show where demand is shifting in near real time. Travellers who previously chose GCC destinations this quarter may now consider alternatives.
“For decision makers, monthly intent is a clear leading indicator of how visa policies, security perceptions, and entry requirements affect competitiveness. During and after disruptions, it also reveals whether traveller confidence is returning.”
