Four nights sailing on the beautiful Aegean Sea is not a novel idea but a new 'Halal cruise' unveiled this week is a tourism concept which is gaining ground in Turkey.

In Istanbul on Tuesday, Antalya-based company Fusion Tour revealed an enterprising approach to tourism.

On their September voyage to neighboring Greece, there will be no alcohol, no pork-related products and no gambling.

Everything on board will be in accordance with Islamic religious values; segregated sports centers, single-sex spa facilities, separate Turkish baths and Masjids [prayer rooms].

´Halal tourism´ is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country. The number of ´Halal´ hotels and tour agents has been increasing over the last 15 years.

However, there has not been a ´halal´ sea cruise so far until Fusion Tour organized this special voyage, like a lucrative format which has seen kosher-friendly and Catholic cruises internationally.

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.

´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,´ says Kemal Gunay, Fusion Tour general manager.

Gokmen Aydinalp, tour project manager, says organizers have thought of everything: ´We don´t even have a painting on a wall of the ship which is against Islamic values."

Passengers who booked a spot on the cruise are glad to be part of what they describe as a ´much-awaited´ concept. ´I believe it will be an atmosphere where I and my family will feel comfortable,´ says 46-year-old Hamit Kutuk, a banker, who will be one of the passengers.

´To be able to eat Halal foods, being together with people who share the same Islamic sensibilities with you and being away from alcohol on this kind of cruise are important for us,´ he adds.

http://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/568131--turkey-s-first-halal-cruise-caters-for-growing-market

[NB: The above is published is a news interest article. SANHA cannot comment on the Islamic  or other veracity of the parties mentioned]