Turkey offers first ever ‘halal cruise’

On its four nights voyage to Greece, the cruise will offer no alcohol, pork related products

A Turkish travel company is offering the country’s first ever 100% ‘halal' cruise.

In an attempt to tap the growing halal tourism market in the country, an Antalya-based company Fusion Tour is offering four nights sailing on the beautiful Aegean Sea in the most halal way possible.

On its voyage to neighbouring Greece in late September this year, the cruise will offer no alcohol or pork products. The option of gambling will also not be available on the cruise.

Travelers on board will also find gender-segregated sports facilities, spas and Turkish baths.

Explaining the concept behind the halal cruise, Fusion Tour general manager Kemal Gunay told Turkish Anadolu news agency, “It will not be just a cruise which does not have alcohol or pork-related products; it will be a cultural and historical tour which promises an atmosphere of social networking.”

Turkey’s first Muslim-friendly cruise – themed ‘On the track of the Ottomans’ – will leave a port in Turkey’s western Izmir province on September 27 and take passengers to the Greek islands of Rhodes and Crete as well as the port city of Piraeus by October 2.

The cruise is not only targeting the indigenous Turkish population but Muslims in general. According to the Turkish Statistics Institute, Turkey saw almost 50% rise in the number of Arab tourists visiting the country in 2014.

The article originally appeared on Anadolu News Agency