Singapore Tops Non-OIC Rankings as AI Transforms Muslim Travel Planning
Source: The Business Times
Singapore has retained its position as the top non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destination in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, scoring 72 points in a year when four in five travellers now use AI tools to plan, evaluate, and discover their journeys.
Singapore has retained its position as the top non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destination in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, scoring 72 points in a year when four in five travellers now use AI tools to plan, evaluate, and discover their journeys. The city-state ranked 11th globally overall, while Malaysia held the top spot for the 11th consecutive year with a score of 82, followed by Indonesia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia tied at 79.
The Mastercard-CrescentRating report evaluated 150 destinations representing more than 98% of global Muslim visitor arrivals, measuring factors such as halal culinary ecosystems, safety standards, cultural accessibility, and smart destination infrastructure. Singapore's strength is driven by its established halal food ecosystem, strong safety record, multicultural environment, and increasingly sophisticated digital tourism infrastructure that makes it easy for AI-powered planning tools to surface relevant information.
The intersection of AI and travel is reshaping how destinations compete. With 80% of travellers now using AI tools for trip planning, destinations must optimise their digital presence for AI discoverability — ensuring that halal restaurants, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly services appear in AI-generated recommendations. Aisha Islam, Senior Vice President at Mastercard's Southeast Asia customer solutions centre, noted that as AI becomes more embedded in travel planning, destinations need to make trusted information and services easier to discover.
The report also highlighted a broader regional shift: Southeast Asia remains the primary travel corridor for Asian Muslim travellers in 2026, driven by proximity, strong air connectivity, established halal ecosystems, and cultural appeal. Rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions have encouraged travellers to choose home-continent mobility over long-haul trips, benefiting regional hubs like Singapore. The index also flagged Mindanao as the most promising non-OIC Muslim-friendly region to watch.
Why it matters for Singapore: The convergence of AI-assisted travel planning and growing Muslim tourist demand creates both an opportunity and a strategic imperative. Singapore's high score reflects years of investment in halal infrastructure and smart tourism, but the increasing role of AI in travel discovery means destinations cannot afford to be digitally invisible. For Singapore's tourism sector, AI optimisation is no longer optional — it is the new front door for the traveller journey.