WHERE NATURE MEETS LUXURY: ISLAMIC TOURISM PRODUCT INDICATORS FOR ECO-GLAMPING (ITPIEG) SITES TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM

Abstract

Known as green tourism, ecotourism refers to traveling in natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain local peoples well-being. Natural beauty, relaxation, and harmony of the environment are among the benefits of ecotourism. Glamping has emerged as a global phenomenon in the outdoor hospitality sector in recent years as a combination of glamorous and camping. The trend of glamping site vacations is quite popular in developed countries, and has started to be prevalent in Malaysia. It is imperative to study these new tourism trends as academic research has emerged on glamping tourism. The aims of this study are to examine the indicators of accommodation and facilities offered by glamping operators and then consider the Malaysia experience on eco-glamping tourism. In light of how eco-glamping appeals to Muslim travellers, it shall further underscore in this study by developing an ITPI targeted specifically at the eco-glamping industry. This study is qualitative using systematic literature searches on priory research. The selected articles, documents, and relevant texts were then narratively reviewed and thematically organized. Comprehensive framework for Islamic Tourism Product Index (ITPI) offered by the Muslim friendly hospitality sector shall then be examined and identified. To gain insights into the findings of this study, content analysis is carried out to analyse the data. This study demonstrates that the comprehensive key indicators of the Islamic Tourism Product Index shall be extended to include glamping accommodations. It is strongly believed that the establishment of ITPI will satisfy the needs and interests of Muslim tourists while protecting the sustainability of the ecotourism industry.