EDITOR’S LET TER It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the second issue of Battuta. With the release of the first edition, we received a great deal of attention from our readers. By the first week, we had bloggers, institutions, and companies contacting us to be featured in the second issue. We praise Allah (swt) for allowing us to successfully continue inspiring Muslim travelers to embark on journeys while keeping it within the boundaries of what is permissible. Representation matters. We knew that a Halal Travel Magazine was much needed not only to inform fellow Muslim travelers but also to let them know that the travel industry is listening to their unique concerns and are working toward accommodating these needs.
Editor in Chief Mehmet N. Akkurt, PhD
As we work toward creating a platform where traveling Muslim families, Muslim couples, and Muslim Solo Travelers feel heard and understood, we must recognize that all this was accomplished as a result of the team’s hard work, excellent articles from the authors, and the endless support from YOU as valuable readers. In this issue, we are featuring a safe destination that has opened its borders for travelers after taking necessary measures to ensure a safe and sound travel experience. Turkey with its natural and historic landmarks, turquoise beaches, endless greenery, and delicious cuisine is waiting for you. Embark on a virtual journey with Haifa Hussein as she takes you along the coast of the Turkish Riviera. Also featured in this issue, you will learn about daily habits to maintain your mental and emotional health with Sara Salih while discovering how to navigate online learning as a parent with Marwa Abdelhaleem. If you have the impression that is all the second issue of Battuta has in store for you, you would be mistaken. Let’s explore the mystery of Hagia Sophia with Nafisa Bakhromovna and read about how traveling can allow Muslims to grow spiritually with MAIMS. Grab your coffee (or tea as I prefer), sit comfortably, and let our authors take you on a journey. May this be the inspiration you seek to plan your next travel with your loved ones. A new way of travel, a new way of creating memories, but the endless desire to travel is what we all have in common. I leave you with a quote from our inspirer Ibn Battuta, he said:
“ Traveling, it offers you a hundred roads to adventure, and gives your heart wings.”
Editor in Chief Mehmet N. Akkurt Art Director Vefa Yabanigul Graphic Designer Yusuf Tezel Editor Veysel Gokbel Azer Suleymanov Honorary Reviewer Haifa Hussein Writers Nafisakhon Bakhromovna Haifa Hussein Sara Salih Oumaima L'grindi Marwa Abdelhaleem Contributors Saira Shazira
CONTENTS: Explore a Mystery: Hagia Sophia
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Safe Halal Friendly Travel Destination: TURKEY
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7 Daily Habits to Maintain Your Mental and Emotional Health During Difficult Times
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Discovering The Turkish Riviera
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Q&A with a Muslim Influencer: Saira Arshad
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Travel and Spirituality
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5 Tips for Muslim Parents’ to Navigate Online Learning During a Pandemic
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Top 3 Cities in Turkey
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Halal Tourism News
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Halal Tourism Business
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GET IN TOUCH Advertisement & Enquiries vyabanigul@HalalTravels.com
Editorial blog@HalalTravels.com
General info@HalalTravels.com
IN SOCIAL MEDIA @HalalTravelscom
When we launched the first issue of Battuta, we did not know it will touch so many people’s lives. Travelers, influencers, travel agencies, and partners all loved what we produced. Although Battuta magazine was digitally published, total reads and impressions went beyond our expectations and reached thousands of people. At Halal Travels, we believed in the power of quality content development as it is key for a fruitful holiday experience for our customers. And it is great to see our efforts are being praised by our audience. Today, Halal Travels is raising its bars not only for providing higher quality content but also for improving our technology at all levels. We listened to your feedback about your digital experiences on our website. We are working tirelessly to improve our website and booking engine by making frequent experimentations and data-driven decisions everyday. Thank you for believing in us. We are strong together. Veysel Gokbel, PhD Co-Founder of HalalTravels.com
Explore a Mystery: by Nafisakhon Bakhromovna
Hagia Sophia is the best reason to visit Istanbul and witness the holiness of this edifice to let its magic mesmerize you. A fascinating city built on two Continents, Istanbul is the crown of the Bosphorus. It is one of the most beautiful and colorful cities in the world. Being the city of contrasts, here you can find everything; from ancient monuments to ultra modern engineering marvels. Istanbul is the center of unique cultural and historical sites of world significance. It is a city of countless ancient churches, mosques, palaces, fortresses, squares, and fountains. Thousands of years of historical monuments and modern art galleries are
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located here side by side. In simple words, you can describe Istanbul as an open air museum. The Hagia Sophia Mosque is perhaps the most significant exhibition of this museum. It is so majestic and beautiful that it can undoubtedly be considered a real wonder of the world. The mosque is located on the top of the first hill of Constantinople, at the tip of the historical peninsula washed by the waters of the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus Strait, and The Golden Horn Bay.
HAGIA SOPHIA Hagia Sophia Construction History Hagia Sophia was built on the site of a Basilica in 360 during the reign of Constantine II. Fires destroyed the Basilica twice, yet it was completely rebuilt in 415. However, misfortunes seemed to haunt the church in 532, it was completely destroyed by participants in a rebellion against Emperor Justinian I. After the suppression of the revolt in 532, construction of a new church, the Hagia Sophia, began on this site. The temple was destroyed several times due to earthquakes, but it was always restored. On May 29, 1453, Mehmed the Conqueror conquered the city of Constantinople and immediately went to the church. Struck by its
beauty and grandeur, the Sultan decided to turn it into an Imperial mosque. Thus, after serving as a symbol of Christianity for nine centuries, in 1453 the Cathedral became the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Hagia Sophia remained the great mosque of the Ottoman capital until its secession from the state by the government of the Turkish Republic in 1934. In 1935, the Meletian masterpiece became the most famous museum in the world.
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Interior of the Hagia Sophia
According to legends…
Hagia Sophia is a type of domed Basilica. And it is the dome, symbolizing the sky, that has become one of the main decorations of the structure.
Because of the supernatural beauty of the Hagia Sophia, many legends have appeared among the people, including the participation of heavenly patrons in the construction of the church. For example, Justinian had a dream in which an angel allegedly told the Emperor the plan for the construction of Hagia Sophia.
The walls of the cathedral are lined with marble panels with various colors and shades. Green and red marble imported from Egypt, yellow Numidian, oriental white with a yellowish tint, white and purple Phrygian, as well as marble from the Greek town of Karithos, were used to create its interior grandeur. The plates are arranged in such a way that the fancy ornaments can change their colors according to the sun’s rays.
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Muslim prayers have been held in the iconic Hagia Sophia for the first time in 86 years after the reconversion of the Istanbul landmark into a mosque.
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In the upper galleries, you can see several mosaic panels depicting Emperor Alexander, Empress Zoe, and her husband, Emperor Constantine IX. However, the interior of the cathedral is decorated not only with mosaics but also with luxurious gilding and paintings.
There are 361 doors in the temple. One hundred and one of them are large and covered with symbols. They say that every time they are counted, new ones are discovered. By order of the Emperor, the temple and the imperial palace were connected by a network of underground tunnels. To prevent them from collapsing, Hagia Sophia was built using powerful marble columns. Another notable attraction of the Hagia Sophia is the cat Gli. She acts as the guardian and owner of the Hagia Sophia. She is the most famous cat in Istanbul with her own Instagram account. Visitors may come across Gli often just sitting or walking at the Omphalion, the navel in Greek, where all the Emperors were crowned in the past. And very recently, the number of Mosques has increased by one in Istanbul! It is exciting that Turkish officials have repeatedly made clear that like all mosques in the country, the building will be open to visitors, who will no longer have to pay entry fees to visit the site. Hagia Sophia is the best reason to visit Istanbul and witness the holiness of this edifice to let its magic mesmerize you.
Nafisakhon Bakhromovna
Nafisahon Bakhromovna is an Uzbek Muslim student majoring in tourism administration. As she is stepping into Halal tourism, content creation and travel writing are fields that she is currently working on. She is already one of the team members of Halaltravels!
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Safe Halal Friendly Travel Destination: by Haifa Hussein The Turkish government has adopted a “Safe Tourism Certification Program” and this has allowed Turkey to be a pioneer in implementing a comprehensive and well thought out action plan that involves a collaboration amongst different Ministries, Sector representatives and International companies. It focuses on the health, safety and well being of Turkish Citizens and International Guests, that is Tourists, like you and me.
TURKEY This Certification program grants the certified companies with the recognition of fulfilling the highest health and hygiene standards. They would have had to successfully comply with 130+ criteria to meet this highest level of standard. Airports, Airlines and other transportation facilities, Accommodations and Food venues were required to comply with these standards. Join me in the following paragraphs as I explore how an Airport and a Hotel have executed this action plan.
‘‘Planning a getaway, then read about why Turkey has become one of the safest places for Muslim travelers to visit. ’’ Istanbul Airport Istanbul Airport is the first airport accredited by Airports Council International ( ACI ) under the Airport Health Accreditation program. Some of the measures adopted at the airport to ensure safe and comfortable journeys for their patrons are as follows: 1. Walk over special sanitizer mats at all terminal access points 2. Luggage is disinfected with a special UV system 3. Body temperature measured at the airport entries 4. Trays used for security controls are disinfected after each use 5. Social distancing signs and hand sanitizers at many points in the airport 6. Contact free check in at kiosks / counters with contactless baggage drop points 7. PPE vending machines and contact free security check 8. Smart Screening Helmets that thermally screen passengers’ temperatures 9. Hygiene Team that ensure everyone has their masks on and are socially distanced A game changer has been the state of the art coronavirus testing center at the airport which can test 40,000 passengers a day and deliver results within 2 - 6 hours.
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Wome Deluxe Hotel In conformance to the standards set by the Government, the safe tourism certification logo will be placed on visible areas inside Certified hotels. Keep an eye out for these logos when booking online as well. Hotels have been given limited occupancy permits and owners are expected to offer masks to tourists who don’t have one. In addition, Hotels are expected to: • Check visitors body temperature upon check in • Sanitizers to be offered in various areas like the lobby, elevators, floors and corridors • Cleaning staff to use PPE’s • Strict social distancing marks at the reception, lobby, sunbeds, pools or beach • Hotel rooms to be left empty for 12 hours for disinfection and ventilation Periodic inspections and bimonthly secret customer inspections are carried out by authorized accreditation institutions who are authorized to inspect the hotels and food & beverage facilities and check for compliance. QR codes on the logos allow guests to access the inspection data. The attention to detail and the comprehensive analysis of every procedure has left me in awe. Islam is Ihsan (Excellence in everything that we do) and Turkey has strived for Excellence to make its Citizens and Visitors feel safe and comfortable all the time. Have a safe and extraordinary halal holiday in Turkey.
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7 DAILY HABITS TO MAINTAIN YOUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH DURING DIFFICULT TIMES by Sara Salih
- Ever been so stressed that your body literally couldn’t hold you up anymore? - I have. - In fact, the world seemed like it was spinning every time I turned over in my sleep!
We often don’t appreciate, or perhaps even forget, the close connection between our mind and our body. We are beautifully designed by Allah swt to have souls intertwined with our mind and heart, all held in a physical form that is expected to run seamlessly. But, if one aspect falls the others soon follow suit. In recent times, we have been met with unprecedented restrictions and a new way of living we couldn’t have foreseen. We’ve collectively been more aware of our mental health due to the impact it has had. I choose to see how blessed we’ve become because awareness is the doorway to maintaining good mental and emotional health. Given what we know about our multifaceted selves, it’s only right that we take a wholesome approach. And I love to categorize, so we can delve into 7 key areas of our life with simple daily habits that can keep us steady and healthy. The best part is you can design your ‘dailies’ according to what suits you best. Personalize it and make it specific for your mental health.
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1. Mentally Practicing mindfulness is a powerful way to manage your racing mind. The idea is to be present in the current moment without overthinking the past, where our sadness and regret fester or the future, where our insecurities and anxieties have a wild rave. All you need to do is bring your mind to the now. One way to do that is to focus on your breathing. But you can choose to focus on anything really – a sound or a scent. For the more spiritually-inclined, you can focus on Allah (swt). It’s okay if your mind wanders and thoughts start flying. Let them. Don’t judge them or try to analyze them. They’re just doing what they do best - living in your mind as they’re supposed to.
Liken them to birds in a park. One second, they’re pecking away at the ground, the next they’ve flown onto a branch, and then they’re gone. Treat your thoughts the same way. With practice, you learn that not every thought needs to be listened to. Not every thought has weight. Not every thought has meaning or evidence to back it up. They’re thoughts, not facts. You then know what deserves your attention, what doesn’t and you become a master of your mind. Furthermore, you can bring yourself back to the present moment any time you like and that’s how you truly keep your mind at peace.
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2. Emotionally We’re all on different spectrums when it comes to expressing our feelings. Some of us bottle them up while others wear them on our sleeves. Our upbringing and experiences in life may not have taught us how to manage our emotions. So we find ourselves erupting in rage over inconveniences, or in extreme despair when we experience a loss. Channel your sadness into creativity, talk to a friend, or what I have found works beautifully is journaling. Journaling your thoughts and your feelings gives you the freedom to write whatever you want without judgment from anyone. Not even you. You can pour your tears out and let your heart bleed all over the pages and it gives the most therapeutic sense of relief. What’s more is you discover things you may not have noticed before. You learn about yourself and find solutions to what’s bothering you much more easily than when it’s all swimming chaotically in your mind. Another tip if you’re really struggling, is to write down something you’re grateful for every day. Focusing on a blessing, letting your mind and heart appreciate it deeply can instantly pick you up when you’re feeling low.
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3. Physically
4. Environmentally
There are days you cannot tell me apart from the furniture and while it’s important to know when to allow your body to rest, it’s just as crucial not to be totally sedentary.
This is all about minimizing the things around us in our physical space. You’d be surprised how much a cluttered home can clutter your mind. So one word – Declutter.
Go out for a walk and get some fresh air. Try a short jog or a swim. Anything that gets your muscles moving and your heart pumping.
Living in an organized home is one thing but let’s not forget the other place we also reside – the online world. Being accessible to anyone and everyone around the clock has a better draining system than my kitchen sink!
Particularly when we feel our mental health has taken a hit, we can be more reluctant to move. But forcing yourself out the door will give you better chances of getting your head straight than binge-watching episodes. As for fuelling our bodies, we know the drill; drink water, eat your greens. We’ve heard it all before but what I’d like to add is how mercifully Allah (swt) has instructed us with His wisdom to look after ourselves physically, knowing the connection it has on our mental health. Ramadan is our reminder to manage our desires to master ourselves and gravitate our soul to Him; With that in mind, we can honor our Amanah by how we feed and treat it and just notice how it influences our mind and soul.
Every email, every notification, every flutter between apps is energy-expending. Most of it is heavy yet useless ‘input’ into your mind with little to no gain. Learn where your screen-time is. Stop mindless scrolling. Take social media breaks. Set daily time-limits. Turn off notifications. Time-block for responding to emails and messages.
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5. Socially For many of us, when our mental health declines, we have a tendency to become more reclusive. But the worst thing we can do is to shut ourselves off from others. It only increases our loneliness, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But knowing someone is there for us can be the one thing that keeps us from despair. Remember that you aren’t a burden to the ones who truly love you. Let them listen and be there for you. Even if you aren’t ready to share your issues, just connect the way you normally do.
6. Spiritually You could consider being spiritually fulfilled as the most essential of all the tips. Being close to Allah swt is the very essence of what it means to be human. So, it really is no wonder we feel in turmoil when we become distant. The most beautiful thing to remember is that Allah swt is always close and never leaves us, meaning we can get closer to Him whenever we have loosened our grip. Daily practices to keep you connected is to savor the 5 daily one-on-ones with your Creator, complain, and rant to the One who always listens. Strengthen your relationship by knowing Him, think of His attributes; His Compassion, His Mercy, His Glory and let them comfort you.
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7. Occupationally Whatever you spend most of your time doing becomes your occupation and if it’s something that is truly meaningful to you, it can fuel you rather than drain you. If you happen to love being a homemaker or a doctor, then experience it to the fullest. Make every part of it be amazing to you. Think of it as the opportunity that you get to do, rather than something you have to do. Work with the intention of it being in service of Allah swt and it becomes another way to worship. My final tip - learn more about yourself and your values everyday and use them to align your lifestyle to who you truly are. The more you live authentically to the nature of your soul, the more your mind and heart find peace.
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by Haifa Hussein
‘‘Let's embark on a virtual journey of adventure along the Turkish Riviera, also known as the Turquoise Coast’’ The odds are we have heard about the French Riviera or the Italian Riviera but we may have never heard of the Turkish Riviera. A few months ago, I stumbled upon the term Turkish Riviera and immediately got captivated by it. I hope I do justice to the topic in the following paragraphs and encourage you to commit to discovering this beautiful area of green, blue waters. While conducting trade in the Turkish markets, early European traders came across a stone that was bright greenish-blue in color and since they had never seen something similar, they called it“Pierre Turquoise” in French translated as “Turkish Stone”. This happens to be the source of the name of the gemstone and the color that we now know as Turquoise. The waters along the Turkish Riviera exhibit manyhued blues and greens and rightfully earned their name “The Turquoise Coast”. The Turkish Riviera or the Turquoise Coast stretches from the Aegean Sea in the North to the Mediterranean in the South and is approximately 600 miles of captivating shoreline. It extends from the Cesme peninsula in the north to the province of Antalya in the south.
I am contemplating a Blue Cruise, also called a Blue Voyage or Blue Tour along the Turkish Riviera from Cesme to Antalya. The word “Blue Cruise” is specifically associated with a cruise along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. The Cruise can be on board a traditional Turkish Gulet or motor yachts. The Turkish Gulets are wooden sailing vessels that do have motors but also have masts and can allow you to enjoy sailing. Turkey is one of the countries that has the most “Blue Flag” awarded beaches, marinas and yachts in the world. The “Blue Flag” is a prestigious, international award which basically certifies that a beach, marina or yacht meet the criteria to be considered as one of the best in the world. Turkey had 463 beaches, 22 marinas and 15 yachts qualify for the Blue flag as of 2019. There are more than 60 notable places to visit along the Turkish Riviera but I have chosen to focus on a select few. For all my halal food and accommodation requirements, I know I can count on HalalTravels every step of the way. Traveling is a blessing and a form of worship. We will come across spectacular sceneries during our travels and uttering the simple word “SubhanAllah” will endear us to Allah swt and coming across historical ruins will allow us to reflect on the past.
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cesMe Cesme means fountain in Persian and Cesme possesses a lot of Ottoman fountains. Cesme is a seaside town on the Aegean Sea, located around 87 km away from Izmir. It has drier and cooler weather relative to the other towns on the Turkish Riviera. Cesme does have its fair share of pretty houses, gorgeous beaches and surrounding hills but it has definitely made a name for itself amongst those who enjoy windsurfing and kiteboarding. The Aqua Toy City is a must visit if you are traveling with youngsters. Do set aside some time to visit the 500 year old Castle that is located in the city centre. Sailing along the turquoise coastline will allow you to get glimpses of playful dolphins and seals. Alacati, a city in the Cesme peninsula, is famous for its windsurfing weather. It is the third best place on our earth for wind and kite surfing. Prior to being a hub for water sports, Alacati was famous for its architecture, windmills and vineyards.
Kusadasi Kusadasi is found on Turkey’s Aegean Coast. The origin of its name is quite peculiar. Kus means bird in Turkish and ada means island in Turkish so Kusadasi means bird island because the island has the shape of a bird when seen from the sea. Kusadasi is considered a shoppers paradise and a major cruise ship destination in addition to its historical wonders. The following are must - visits / must - do’s in Kusadasi:
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The ancient city of Ephesus Pigeon Island and its museum The town of Selcuk Enjoy a Jeep Safari Enjoy a Horse Safari Enjoy a Quad Safari The preserved National Park, Millipark The markets for bargain shopping Adaland for white water rafting Go Scuba diving The highlight will of course be a tandem skydive
After a lot of adrenaline packed activities, be sure to spend the day at one of Kusadasi’s many beaches to unwind. For a panoramic end to an action packed visit, a visit to the top of Ataturk Hill comes in highly recommended.
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Bodrum Bodrum is found on the Aegean Sea and it was named as one of 2020’s top travel destinations by Architectural Digest. Bloomberg also named Bodrum as one of the best places to travel to in 2019. Business Insider classified Bodrum as a luxury travel destination. Basically, Bodrum is the coolest place to be for a lot of celebrities. The gentle sailing conditions have made it a magnet for yachts and superyachts. The food selection will also not disappoint. The restaurants
have managed to perfect their offerings inviting people to come back for more. Bodrum also has considerable historical significance. The city used to be called Halicarnassus of Caria in the olden times. One of the seven wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Mausolus is also found in Bodrum. Bodrum Castle is a must visit. It was built by the Knights of St. John in the 15th Century and has now been converted into a Museum of
Underwater Technology. The Theatre of Halicarnassus or the Bodrum Amphitheatre is quite a spectacle for those who would like to enjoy spectacular views of the Aegean Sea. Bodrum has been associated with shipbuilding and is one of the principal areas where the traditional Turkish Gulets are made. A visit to its Maritime Museum will allow one to have greater respect for the finesse in building these three masted vessels.
Marmaris Marmaris enjoys a typical Mediteranean climate with long hot summers and cool rainy winters. It is nestled and surrounded by pine trees. It is charming in its own way because it is surrounded by villages that lead you on a path to discovering the secrets of the past. Marmaris boasts two major marinas and a lot of smaller ones. It is a great spot to indulge in some diving and sailing to discover uninhabited islands. The top 10 places to visit in Marmaris are as follows: • • • • • • • • • •
Marmaris Castle Cleopatra Island also known as Sedir Island The protected Marmaris National Park Spare some time for the Dancing fountain Blue Flag beaches like Icmeler and Turunc The Archaeology Museum of Marmaris Boat trip on Dalyan River Marmaris Atlantis Waterpark The Grand Bazaar is a shoppers delight Enjoy sunsets at Marmaris Amphitheatre
For Resurrection Ertugrul enthusiasts, Marmaris represents a chance to visit Sogut and you can visit an actual Caravanserai namely the Hafsa Sultan Caravanserai.
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Fethiye Fethiye was previously called Makri but in 1934, Ataturk renamed it Fethiye to remember one of the first air force pilots, Captain Fethi Bey. It has a unique location. Fethiye represents the point where the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea meet. Its weather is typically Mediteranean with hot, humid summers and cool but sunny winters. There is so much to say about Fethiye. The Oludeniz Beach has put Fethiye in the spotlight. It is a Blue Flag beach with perfect white sand and a beautiful blue lagoon nestled therein. The beach is a pebble beach. The waters close to the beach are clear but the lagoon projects a darker shade of blue. The lagoon has been declared a Nature Reserve that is protected for future generations.Paragliding, snorkelling and scuba diving are some of the activities recommended. Nature enthusiasts and conservationists will undoubtedly fall in love with Fethiye.
• Butterfly Valley is accessible only by water taxi and it will undoubtedly give you an eye full of beautiful species of butterflies. • You may notice bird hotels scattered around Fethiye. These were set up as shelters for birds during the winter season. Food and water is also provided.
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• The Caretta - Caretta turtles nest in Fethiye. They have been around for a very long time and are endangered. Volunteers are on hand to educate tourists to be mindful about hatching spots.
Looking up into the mountain reveals rock hewn structures that would need a closer look to get a glimpse from the Lycian past. These were tombs that the Lycians used in the past. For those who enjoy the outdoors, something worth mentioning here is the Lycian Way. The Lycian Way is a 540 km hiking trail that starts from Oludeniz and ends at our next stop, Antalya. The entire path can be covered in 25 - 30 days and is recommended to be done with others. It does offer spectacular views. Kayakoy is a UNESCO heritage site. It consists of abandoned buildings and homes that belonged to the Greeks who used to call it home. It is basically an open air museum. Saklikent or “Hidden City� in Turkish is one of the deepest canyons in the world and a must visit. Fethiye has its fair share of stunning beaches, markets and museums but if you crave for an ultimate and private getaway, then the place to be is Sovalye Island. It is accessible only by water taxi.
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antalya Our final stop will be Antalya and it represents the Crown Jewel of the Turkish Riviera and is located on the Mediterranean coast. Antalya typically enjoys 300 days of sunshine. You can expect hot summers and mild, rainy winters. Antalya is both a city and a province. Its eastern point lies around 5 hours drive from its western point. It is a fairly big province and its city is equally big and glamorous. Antalya can cater to everyone’s needs.
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Cultural & Historical enthusiasts must visit:
For the Outdoor and Sports Enthusiast:
• Hierapolis & Pamukkale classified as World Heritage sites by UNESCO • Termessos, Perge and Aspendos are ancient city ruins • Minicity Antalya has miniversions of famous structures • Antalya museum houses artifacts from as far back as the Stone Age • The Old Town ( Kaleici ) • Yivli Minare built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad
• Canoeing and white water rafting • Cable skiing and Parasailing • Diving and Scuba diving • Boat trips & Submarine Nemo Excursions • Antalya Aqualand and Sealanya Dolphin Park • Duden Waterfalls made of recycled water • Hiking on the trail of the Lycian Way For the beach lovers: • Lara Beach famous for its golden sand • Konyaalti Beach is a pebble beach • Side Beach is a long and sandy beach • Olympos Beach is quite secluded if you prefer privacy
A stroll down the Old Antalya harbor will help put everything in perspective, the sea and the majestic mountains creating a natural beauty to be treasured for a lifetime. A journey to the green blue comes to an end. I truly hope I have ignited a spark within you to go and visit the spectacular Turquoise Coast. The spectacular beaches, mountain scenery and warm climate are indeed blessings from Allah swt and must be appreciated. Sources: GoTurkey Tourism, Property Turkey,
Haifa Hussein
As a child, I was fascinated with nature, airplanes and airports. Later, I managed Alfarag Duty Free stores at the Addis Ababa Int’l Airport. Everyone I met proved that a smile was an expression understood by all. Keep smiling and let’s connect on Instagram @haifa_h.1
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Q&A Saira Arshad ‘shazaira’ Travel & Fashion
In the “Influencer Q&A” section of this issue, we feature Saira Arshad. She is essentially a nomad with her best friend being her passport. A quick look at Saira’s Instagram page is enough to get an idea about her contagious energy. Saira tells us about how traveling made her grow spiritually and how she became more appreciative of her surroundings. She also shares helpful tips for hijabi travelers on how to pack smart. Join us to learn more about this incredible individual and how she works hard toward making a difference in the world to make it a better place for everyone.
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Would you kindly share a little bit about yourself for Battuta readers? Who is Saira? Hiya! My name is Saira Arshad; I go by ‘shazaira’ on Instagram! I am a Canadian expat who has been between Kuwait, Dubai, and Toronto for the past 6 years, I’m a self-proclaimed nomad who loves to travel and take a million pictures at once, sharing the things I love with the world!
“Traveling starts with inspiration” is one of our mottos. What inspires you to travel? I travel to experience the realities of other people I share the world with. New sights, smells, and people inspire me to get up and go!
Your Instagram page is artistic, entertaining, elegant, and informative. As an influencer, how do you keep your 93.6K followers engaged? Thank you! It’s never been a numbers game for me to be honest. I share what I genuinely love and enjoy, and if others love my loves and are interested in joining me on this journey of life, they’re more than welcome! It’s very easy to let the numbers consume you and begin to believe in this façade of social media being a complete representation of reality when it’s only a very small part of ones life being shared. I’m not too keen on getting warped into that mindset!
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You have a strong emphasis on holism on your Instagram. You said “pay more attention to the details of your story and the way it’s unfolding. if you focus too much on the ending, you might miss out on the whole story". In this issue, we also talk about how traveling allows an individual to grow spiritually. How have your travels allowed you to grow spiritually? They’ve made me slow down. To appreciate and pay attention to the small things; the conversations had with local tuktuk drivers, how finely the onions were chopped in my curry, or the sounds of crickets in the evening as I fall asleep. Traveling has opened my mind and my heart to the actual wonder and beauty of God’s creation and appreciate how in awe I am of it every time; both of it’s incredible beauty and in gratitude for being able to experience it. Not a leaf falls but that he knows it, and he’s given me the opportunity to be at this exact place at this exact moment of time! #mindblown #alhamdulillahalways
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You are involved in several projects including #helpyateem. Any recommendations for our readers and other influencers as to how they can be an agent of change in making our World a better place? I majored in International Development and started university with the intention of wanting to save the entire world lol. I had one professor whose words have always stuck with me; after crushing my dreams of saving the world with a ‘that’s impossible and never going to happen’, he reminded me that as a citizen of the world, each and every one of us has a global responsibility to do whatever we can in whichever capacity
we can to help make the world a better place both for ourselves and the people with whom we share the world with. No matter how big or small, even the smallest act is impactful in ways we might not even know. My advice would be to never think any action isn’t good enough or going to matter in the long run; that’s not why you’re doing it. You’re doing it because it’s your moral obligation and simply the right thing to do.
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As you were featured in a book titled “Modesty: A Fashion Paradox” and were featured in Vogue Arabia’s website as one of the forces behind the modest fashion movement, what are your Style Secrets? Any recommendations for fellow Hijabi travelers in terms of how to pack for their trip? I’d definitely suggest outfit planning before you leave; this includes everything from top to bottom including shoes and accessories. This way you don’t pack unnecessary items, extra scarves, or 5 pair of different hoop earrings, hoping something will match while you’re away! This also ensures you wear everything you pack, and tends to leave you with extra space for some local shopping!
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When things go back to normal and we start traveling again the way we used to, what destination is on top of your list? Where do you plan to travel first with your friend (AKA your passport :). Omg anywhere and everywhere! I’ve got serious withdrawal of airports and traveling and sleeping on planes and I can’t wait to see the world again! Kenya, Bali, Paris, and
Istanbul have been ones which keep coming up in conversation (and in my flight searches lol) so fingers crossed we’re headed someplace soon!
Lastly, do you have any recommendations for Battuta readers on traveling during the pandemic? Stay safe and travel responsibly! We’re each responsible for our own actions.
This was a delight, and thank you sincerely for taking the time to answer our questions.
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Travel and Spirituality
by Oumaima L’grindi
Traveling is like acquiring a degree of knowledge. The more you travel, the more knowledge you gain about the world. It is reported in a Hadith that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “if anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah swt will cause him to travel on one of the roads of paradise” (1631). We are taught in Islam to be knowledgeable and gain knowledge whenever you can, so if we are using travel as a means to do it, then so be it! If you travel without absorbing your surroundings, it would be a meaningless trip, so be thoughtful when planning a trip, about what you can gain from it. How to gain the most, spiritually, from your trip?
Do your research Don’t turn up to a city aimlessly, vast amounts of countries have a rich Islamic history waiting for you to unravel. In some countries you will also find tours dedicated to Islamic history, I recently went on one in Istanbul and it was very informative. Don’t forget the internet is your friend; use all your sources!
Do some charity If you’re on holiday for a week or so, pick one day or even half a day, volunteer with a local charity. If you want to travel and help people, try a volunteering program, there are many programs, for various countries from Peru to India. In these programs, you can help out during the weekdays, whether it is teaching English or helping out at a special needs school, and the weekends are free for you to use, therefore allowing you to explore the city.
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Go solo We hear all the time people saying the phrase “I’m going to find myself”, so travel solo, go find yourself, make yourself a better person. When you step out of your comfort zone, it may be dismantling at first because you’ve stepped into what is ‘new territory’, but try to absorb your surroundings. Experiences that happen during traveling can change someone’s life, many have even converted to Islam after traveling to some Muslim countries. Experiencing a different culture and way of life, allows you to reflect and have a different perspective on another human’s perspective on life. Alhamdulillah we have been given the opportunity to travel and be appreciative to various cultures and traditions and this should allow us to be grateful.
My top 5 takeaways from traveling; • Be grateful • Enjoy the moment • Give back • Climb that mountain! • And always say ALHAMDULILAH
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Culture The culture of each country is what ultimately entices each traveler, how did this country become what it is today. Learning about each other’s cultures, allows us as humans to become more accepting of the world around us, this eventually turns into, what you could think of as a cycle.
A Reflection My road trip into the Sahara last year along with other places I have visited this year has allowed me to reflect on many different aspects of my life. Many villages we passed not only in Morocco but also on a more recent trip to Inegol, Turkey, portrayed a life that is much more calm and simple, materialistic desires are virtually nonexistent allowing you to live in the moment and reflect on what is most important in your life. After visiting a family in a Bedouin camp, this particular family mainly relies on donations from tourists to essentially keep food on a plate (along with many other people in this area). Alhamdulilah this is a hardship that a lot of us don’t face. However, it gives us, the traveler the opportunity to not only reflect but be grateful. The major factor that me and my family took away from this holiday was to be grateful. Experiences like these allow us to witness hardships that are sadly a reality in our world. Whilst we may view people experiencing hardships on a TV, when traveling you are able to witness first hand, what their reality really is.
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Appreciating Allah’s swt creation, and when witnessing it, we can appreciate it, we automatically become more spiritually “Traveling it leaves you inclined to become closer to Allah swt. (let speechless, but then turns you this be a trigger for you into a storyteller” to keep traveling :) - Ibn Battuta
You see some amazing places! When traveling we all see some amazing places, that not even a camera can do justice to, am I right?
Do you ever just get to the top of a mountain or see an amazing view, even feel the atmosphere in a city and think Subhanallah! We are very fortunate to able able to witness
So if you have any doubts about whether or not you should climb that mountain, go to that city or swim in that sea DO IT, because you never know if that could be step that will make you closer to Allah swt.
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5 Tips for Muslim Parents’ to Navigate Online Learning During a Pandemic by Marwa Abdelhaleem
Across the world, due to a global pandemic, things changed. Things changed so drastically and so quickly that we barely had time to digest what was happening, let alone devise a plan for what was to come. One drastic change was the indefinite closure of schools. Millions of students worldwide were asked to take learning online. Parents suddenly
found themselves needing to wear not only the parent hat but a teacher hat as well—all the while working their fulltime jobs. They were left to fend for themselves and pick up where their children left off at school. Parents needed to juggle the responsibilities of their job, their family, and their child’s academic performance while maintaining an emotionally
and physically balanced and healthy lifestyle. As a parent of a 12-year-old and a fulltime teacher, learning online presented challenges that neither of us was ready to tackle. Nevertheless, we went into survival mode and got through it together. After 11 weeks of virtual learning, here is how I tried my best to keep my child’s online learning positive and safe.
1.Be open and honest: Whether your child is in Kindergarten or High School, having an honest dialog about Covid-19 is vital. Let them know that they can come to you with any questions or concerns and answer your child’s questions in a factual and age-appropriate manner. There is no need to provide too many details that may confuse them or worry them. Address any fears or anxieties that they may have and pay close attention to what they see or hear on TV or online. Remind them that Allah swt is in control and that He doesn’t test us with more than we can bear.
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2.Make a schedule and make it visible: Working and schooling from home, for most people, isn’t familiar territory. Things still need to get done and productivity can easily drop if time isn’t managed. Coming up with a schedule with your children that is realistic and goal-focused is crucial. To start, try to keep the same sleeping schedule for your children that they had when they were going to school. Providing clear expectations of daily studying routines will give children the structure they need to succeed. Don’t forget to include chores and physical activity in the schedule. This will give your children a sense of responsibility and participation.
3.Create opportunities for online bonding: Connecting with friends and family is more important now than ever before and this can only happen online. Give your children the opportunity and privacy to be able to keep in touch with others even if it means more screen time. This is a great opportunity for your child to express kindness and empathy with those closest to their hearts.
4.Keep them active:
5.Learn something new:
Anyone with experience of parenting a teenager knows that it can sometimes be difficult to motivate children of this age group. As a mother of a pre-teen, Covid-19 didn’t help the situation. It was very difficult keeping my son active and healthy. However, I found it easier to keep him interested if I did it with him. You can take advantage of your yard space and play games with your children, cycle or stroll up and down the neighborhood together. While we are often trying to reduce screen time, there are a few fun online resources such as PE with Joe and Cosmic Kids Yoga to help inspire and keep children active.
This is a golden opportunity to take the time to encourage your children to get creative, pick up a new skill, and hone some life skills. For example, provide opportunities for them to sew, garden, draw, paint, cook or write and support their interest in acquiring one or more of these skills. This will not only serve as a time killer but also increases their independence and boost their self-confidence. Chores like folding the laundry, making one’s bed, baking, and setting the table are all great ways to encourage children to be independent and teach them some practical skills.
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Istanbul East Meets West Being one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, Istanbul is the bridge that connects the East (Asia) and the West (Europe) together. Boasting numerous sight-seeing options, travelers are welcome to drown in the beauty of nature. Istanbul has a cheap public transport system, with options like buses, ferries, trams, trains, and taxis. Travelers can purchase the Istanbulkart, the electronic card that makes transport fare payment easier. The tram lines run across various Istanbul tourist sites, making tourism easier.
3 Reasons to Visit • The Blue Mosque • Bosphorus Cruise • The Grand Bazaar
Muslim-Friendliness Blessed with a high Muslim population, Istanbul is a Muslim-friendly city. Home to the 5 centuries-old Grand Bazaar, which contains no less than 5000 shops, 60 restaurants with Halal food options, 18 fountains, a school, and 12 mosques. Istanbul has quite a decent amount of mosques where Muslim travelers can worship. There are numerous halal hotels in Istanbul, with Muslim-friendly facilities like a prayer room, secluded swimming pools, spas with women-only areas, and Halal restaurants.
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Antalya History and Nature Located in a Muslim country, finding Halal food in Antalya is quite easy. In fact, the majority of Antalya hotels are equipped with Muslim friendly facilities, including strictly Halal restaurants, prayer facilities, soundproof rooms, and private pool areas. Muslim couples can also find honeymoon suites in these hotels. There are also numerous mosques in Antalya where Muslim travelers can worship while away from the hotel. The parks, beaches, and resorts in this city also offer various children play areas.
3 Reasons to Visit • Ancient Ruins • Stunning Nature • Beautiful Beaches
Muslim-Friendliness Home to a rich history and mind-blowing natural landscape, this southwest Turkish city is a great holiday destination. Antalya promises a great hiking experience with a marked walking trail of about 540 kilometers. There are small and affordable boutique hotels set within the nature of mountains and beaches. A visit to Antalya Museum will give tourists an insight into Turkish history with various archeological findings and beautiful sculptures from the ancient Roman era. Hadrian’s Gate and the Lycian Empire are two must-visit historic sites in Antalya.
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Tourism in a Balloon Famous for its hot air balloon rides, Cappadocia is one of the most visited Turkish regions. This city has a rocky landscape with fairy Chimney rock formations caused by an ancient volcanic eruption. Tourists go to this site to fly hot air balloons, creating a scenic view together with the blasting sunrise. These balloon rides also provide beautiful views of the small villages, river valleys, and fascinating cliffs. Apart from balloons, a visit to the underground city is one of the things to do in Cappadocia.
3 Reasons to Visit • Hot Air Balloon Rides • Cave Hotels • Underground Cities
Muslim-Friendliness Located in a Muslim country, there are halal restaurants in Cappadocia that serves both Turkish and continental halal food. Some of the accommodations provided by the hotels are also Muslim-friendly, with facilities like private pools, soundproof rooms, and prayer facilities. The famous tourist locations in Cappadocia are also Halal-friendly and perfect for Muslim tourists. Muslims can observe their prayers at any of the various mosques scattered across the city. The signature hot air balloon rides are also a great way for Muslims to appreciate the magnificence of Allah swt.
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Halal Tourism
NEWS
Turkey to Certify Accommodation Facilities, Restaurants, and Tour and Transfer Vehicles as Safe Are you planning to travel to Turkey and not sure if your accommodation provider has taken the necessary measures to protect its guests and ensure a safe and healthy trip? Hungry and not sure if the restaurant you wanted to try follows the hygiene protocols? Well, worry no more. Turkey has worked hard to ensure safe travels for domestic and international travelers. Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) has made it easy for you to check if the services you plan to utilize are certified.
Turkey’s ‘Safe Tourism Certification Program’ defines and advises an extensive series of measures to be taken with regards to transportation and accommodation of all Turkish citizens and International visitors who will spend their holidays in Turkey as well as the well-being and health conditions of passengers/ guests and of employees working at touristic facilities. All
you need to do is to visit https://tga.gov.tr/home/ to check out if the accommodation facility, restaurant, or tour and transfer vehicle you plan to utilize is certified. The user-friendly website allows you to easily search by service name, city, or district. Visit the TGA website for more information on safe tourism whether you are a domestic or an international traveler.
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Halal Tourism
NEWS
COVID-19 tests to be provided in Turkish Airports After a memorable and safe trip to Turkey, it is time to fly back home or elsewhere but did you know that some countries require a COVID-19 (known as CPR testing) test that is taken within 48 hours of your flight? If you are traveling from Turkey to a country where COVID-19 testing is required, you do not have to worry about finding an authorized center to get the test done. We have compiled that information for you. There are two easy options: An Airport or an Authorized Center.
Airport: Turkish airports have set booths for travelers to easily conduct the test and receive the results as fast as in 2 hours. However it is advised to allow for 6 or more hours in case there is an overload. The best thing to do would be to take the test a day before the flight. Testing centers at the airports are open 24/7 and the test costs 30 Euros. Istanbul, IzmÄąr, Antalya, Dalaman, and Bodrum airports are some of the airports with CPR testing facilities. You may collect your results from the test center in person, via email, or using this link: https://enabiz.gov.tr/PcrTestSonuc/Index
Authorized Centers: The Turkish government has assigned 130 centers to conduct CPR testing. To access the list of authorized labs in Turkey to conduct COVID-19 testing, please click here.
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Turkish Grand Prix 2020: Formula 1 to return to Turkey
Istanbul Park will be hosting the Turkish Grand Prix 2020 and this will be the first time since 2011. Organizers are targeting 100,000 fans which can be easily accommodated since the circuit is in a wide open space with a total capacity of 220,000 spectators. Organizers are taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of the spectators by arranging seats according to social distancing protocols in place.
General admission tickets for the event are being priced at 30 Turkish Lira (ÂŁ3) per day, with Intercity saying they were more interested in running a successful grand prix than maximizing profit. These prices are likely to attract more domestic and international spectators. Tickets can be purchased via this link; https://www.biletix.com/formula1/en.
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Halal Tourism
BUSINES S Digital Marketing Perspective: How online travel agencies cope with COVID-19 by Azer Suleymanov Digital Marketing and Advertising Manager at HalalTravels.com
The impact of COVID-19 on online travel agencies has been unprecedented. Many big companies and startups are now out of the business.
marketing budget to save” strategy, which is not the core philosophy at HalalTravels.com during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The world of online travel is constantly trying to understand what the means of coping with the crisis are and what businesses can do to better manage this economic and health crisis. There is a huge level of uncertainty about the future, but travel agencies should be better prepared for the post-COVID-19 era in terms of awareness, engagement, sales, and customer loyalty.
It is evident that the return on investment for sales-oriented campaigns launched by online travel agencies is not the same as it was in the pre-pandemic times. So why should businesses should be optimistic about investing in marketing even more during these hard times and how is that even doable?
It is common practice in the online travel business to cut marketing budgets during times of crisis. The consequences of such actions are often destructive and cannot be reversed. It is worth mentioning that cutting marketing investment disrupts access to the market meaning that the potentially existing demand will be missed. It is fundamental to remind ourselves that marketing is now more important than ever. We have seen many online travel agencies following the “cut your
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Investing in marketing even more or at least wisely maintaining or slightly cutting the previous spending levels may potentially guarantee a headstart in the digital domain when the global economy fully recovers. It is important to note that companies should not perceive the term “investment” in terms of campaign spend only. It is more about working on improving the performance of website search engines, advancing marketing technology and automation.
More resources should also be dedicated to data analysis which is a cornerstone of online travel agencies along with information technologies. Moreover, we should also start seriously considering app-based amenities which are going to be in demand during and after the Covid-19 crisis. It is a wise choice to continue spending on bottom funnel campaigns such as raising awareness and interest and deploying significant resources to user engagement activities. Researchers have found that brands can speed up their recovery post-recession by building brand value and awareness during the recession. We see many companies turning to content marketing to drive engagement through organic and direct traffic. The current conditions of the market mean that
sales campaigns will probably be reduced or will be considered a fraction of the limited demand for services offered by OTA's. This is a great opportunity to improve processes and start instilling and further developing the “digital� culture within travel agencies so as to be better prepared for the future because tomorrow is going to be different from the pre-COVID-19 era. The management of HalalTravels.com along with its highly professional marketing team is currently investing in the company’s core technology, data analysis and marketing infrastructure to better serve its customers in the post-COVID-19 era. We truly believe that this approach will bring benefits to our customers all over the world.
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