Mystras to Monemvasia – Unlocking Greece's Halal Tourism Potential

"Since I have been working in PR promoting Greece for over 25 years, I haven't done specific campaigns promoting halal travel. The reason behind this is because we just haven't had the marketing behind this as a nation," explained Katilena Alpe from DK Associates.

Greece's Untapped Potential – A Halal Tourism Perspective

View up top from Mystras Castle (photo: Shebs Alom)

Greece is one of the most visited destinations in Europe, with thousands of years of culture and history weaved into the salty Mediterranean air and the olive groves that dot the landscape. I have had the opportunity to travel to Greece a number of times over the last four years and whilst I have loved my time there - and I just returned from a luxurious stay in Mystras, Sparta and Athens in February - I can personally attest that Greece is simply not geared towards the halal traveller. The potential is there, and there is so much appetite for development and welcoming tourists but steps are not being taken to welcome Muslim travellers. But why is this? Is it something that could be driven at a government level or is Greece simply unaware of the business that halal tourism could bring?

Opportunities in the Peloponnese Region

Beautiful surrounding of Monemvasia (photo: Shebs Alom)

Whilst Greece’s islands, such as Santorini, Crete and Rhodes, get much of the attention, the Peloponnese region offers something different – a less crowded, more affordable, and an adventure-packed alternative. I saw families and groups of friends exploring the historical and mesmerising ancient ruins in Sparta, which includes the Ancient Acropolis. Although it wasn’t open when I went, you would have to check out the new amphitheatre – especially in spring and summer when they have theatre shows on throughout the week.

One aspect that I loved in the region was wandering through the UNESCO-listed Byzantine town of Mystras – including a must-do hike up to the top of the castle for a fantastic landscape view. 

The other trump card and my absolute favourite part of the trip is to head southeast and stroll the castle streets of Monemvasia, often dubbed Greece’s answer to Mont-Saint-Michel. This area felt untouched by time; you will find Byzantine churches, Venetian-style houses, bars and restaurants and a magnificent sea view. It’s so relaxing and the kind of place where you can lose yourself – but in a good way. 

With Kalamata airport offering direct access to the region and Athens just a 3-hour drive away, it’s easier than ever to reach. It’s also really cost-effective to hire a car, and it is recommended to have one as it makes it easier to get around. Plus, you can park everywhere for free (at least for now). This makes Greece a diverse destination where you, as the traveller, can maintain a level of control over your experience rather than being shepherded from attraction to attraction. It is real, it is authentic, and it’s on our doorstep.

Why Greece Lags in Halal Tourism – insights from tour operators

Statue of Leonidas, Sparta (photo: Shebs Alom)

When speaking to tour operators dedicated to halal travel, such as Halalbooking, Halal Holidays, Salam Booking, and Halal Holiday Check, they all gave me similar feedback on why the destination isn’t popular with halal-conscious travellers. 

Ibrahim from Halalbooking told me, “Greece is not a popular place for halal travel, as far as we know. We do get some who want to book a trip to the islands or Athens, but it's not known as Muslim-friendly." Ibrahim alluded to me that the infrastructure isn't right for a family or a group of friends who are halal-conscious.

Pooja reiterated this from Halal Holidays. She said, "We do get bookings, but Greece isn't advertised on our website, and that is because their business model from hotels, restaurants and activities plays a significant part."

Songul from Salam Booking added to this by saying, "Since most of the hotels and restaurants do not have an alcohol-free area, unfortunately, Greece is not a popular destination for Muslims. Halal food is also another problem we are facing with customers, knowing there is a problem with booking. You can make a reservation through the website, but it's unclear whether the hotels are Muslim-friendly."

Finally, Burhan from Halal Holiday Check explained to me, "Unfortunately, Greece is not in high demand for Muslim holidaymakers. There are no facilities in Greece for the conservative concept––such as no Islamic concept accommodation options. Halal tourism is just beginning to multiply and develop globally."

Other specialist halal-conscious operators, like Rihaala and Rooh Travel echoed similar sentiments – neither advertises Greece on their respective booking platforms, citing the facilities and the attitude of those in decision-making roles to embrace Halal tourism.

Navigating Greece as a Muslim Traveller

A view of the mountain and the castle of Monemvasia (photo: Shebs Alom)

This makes me wonder – Greece is such a glorious place to travel to, and with some of the best moments I’ve had over the last few years, is it a lack of education that is playing the part? Or is there a deeper reason why they haven’t tried to cater for halal tourism? Our South Korean report showed how that country realised the huge potential of the halal tourism market a decade ago – look where they are now. That's a destination I never thought would be Muslim-friendly until I visited.

When I carried on my conversation with Katilena Alpe, she said, "I would love to have a scope of business for the sector, but working with luxury travel brands as I have over the years – and even in recent times with the growth of the Muslim travel sector – there still isn't a dialogue with either organisation and tourist boards on this area of the business to be enhanced.”

Athens is the getting there, but more is needed

Beautiful setting of Athens (photo: Shebs Alom)

Athens, out of all the other destinations that I have travelled to in Greece, is definitely the most well-equipped for halal-conscious travellers. When you arrive at the airport, you will see a prayer facility. There are halal places to eat, although local knowledge of which neighbourhoods to head to is important here – typically areas with larger Muslim communities. These areas are a little less salubrious compared to Monastiraki, which lies at the heart of Athens. So, you would need to travel out a bit. That said, Greece does have delicious vegetarian options galore – and sometimes that can be just as good as having meat.

There is a glimmer of hope for halal-conscious travellers

(Photo: Canva)

I decided to relay this to the Greek tourism board. I contacted and spoke to the Director of the Greek UK & Ireland Tourism Organisation, Eleni Skarveli, who went into fine detail on what is currently being done. “The Greek National Tourism Organisation recognises the growing importance of this market and has undertaken several initiatives, including collaborations with Middle Eastern airlines and travel agencies, participation in international fairs, and efforts to expand halal-friendly services. Whilst progress has been made, we acknowledge the need for further development.” 

I was also told that they have taken recent initiatives, including Greece’s participation in the Arabian Travel Market 2024 and their extended visa scheme for Turkish nationals, as well as promoting culturally significant sites linked to Muslim heritage.

Skarveli finished by telling me, which gave me real optimism for halal-conscious travellers, “Developing this sector presents a strong economic opportunity, helping to extend the tourist season, create jobs, and attract investment. With the right infrastructure and marketing, we hope Greece will establish itself as a key destination for Muslim travellers.”

It’s encouraging to see that if they really want to attract halal-conscious travellers, even though my stays have been brilliant, they would need to make significant adjustments to make it more halal-friendly. It's almost there—just a few tweaks away.

The Halal Travel Network is on hand to help them take that step, and the potential is there—it's just a matter of how long it will take Greece to take the initiative and then for us to see that growth.

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