AFUH, HUITM To Organise International Umrah And Tourism Exhibition 2026 In Six Countries
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Federation of Umrah and Haj (AFUH), in collaboration with the Haj and Umrah International Travel Market (HUITM), will organise the International Umrah and Tourism Exhibition 2026 as a strategic initiative to strengthen the global Islamic tourism ecosystem and expand international industry cooperation.
AFUH President Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khalid Harun said the international roadshow-style exhibition will involve six selected locations, with Kuala Lumpur chosen as the starting point for HUITM 2026.
“The event will be conducted as an international roadshow across six locations, with Kuala Lumpur selected as the opening venue on June 18 before continuing to several other countries,” he said at a press conference here today.
Also present were HUITM Managing Director Hakan Sahin, President of the Association of Umrah Private Travel Companies of Uzbekistan (UZSAA) Sherzod Sami, and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Karomidin Gadoev.
Mohd Khalid said the HUITM 2026 roadshow series is scheduled to continue in Indonesia (June 23), Uzbekistan (June 27–28), Morocco (July 2), Türkiye (July 11–12) and Kazakhstan (September 13).
He said the convention and exhibition would serve not merely as a showcase platform, but would focus on business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking involving Umrah and Haj operators, travel agencies, hotels, airlines, and support service providers from both domestic and international markets.
Mohd Khalid said the organisation of HUITM 2026 also aims to transform the traditional approach of the Umrah industry, which has long focused primarily on the sale of pilgrimage packages.
“We want Umrah operators to see broader opportunities, including two-way tourism and strategic cooperation with other countries, rather than focusing solely on conventional Umrah packages,” he said.
He added that Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, have significant potential in Islamic tourism and could become key strategic partners for Umrah and Haj operators in the region.
“Countries such as Uzbekistan have great potential in Islamic tourism and are among the strategic partners we aim to connect directly with Umrah and Haj operators through this platform,” he said.
Mohd Khalid said the platform would also provide opportunities for local operators to explore incentives and support offered by the governments of participating countries, while promoting other Islamic tourism destinations as added value for pilgrims.
At the same event, he, on behalf of AFUH, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UZSAA, represented by Sherzod Sami, to strengthen strategic cooperation in the Umrah, Haj and Islamic tourism industries.
-- BERNAMA
