MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TOHOKU campaign aims to attract more Malaysians, Indonesians to Tohoku, Japan

Source: 

The Reconstruction Agency, the government body in Japan coordinating reconstruction activities related to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, is developing a New Tohoku project to promote tourism in Tohoku, Japan. 

A MUSLIM-FRIENDLY* TOHOKU campaign has been launched as part of the campaign. The campaign aims to establish infrastructure necessary to receive Muslim inbound traffic in six prefectures of the Tohoku district. Travel collaterals targeting Muslim-majority countries with stable economic growth such as Indonesia and Malaysia have been developed. 

The campaign is driven by growth in the number of Muslims visiting Japan as well as an estimated jump in Japan's inbound tourism market that is expected toward 2020, when the 2020 Summer Olympics will take place in Tokyo, Japan. Tourist numbers from Indonesia and Malaysia have grown nearly threefold over four years, from 2012 to 2016. 

MUSLIM-FRIENDLY workshops have also been held at major hotels in Tohoku to deepen the understanding of the concept in order to create and develop new omotenashi (お持て成し, Japanese-style hospitality) services to welcome Muslims. As a result, facilities with prayer rooms and Muslim-friendly meals have been developed in Tohoku, expanding on the only two lodging facilities which had Muslim-friendly meals in the six prefectures of Tohoku as of March 2017, according to a study conducted by Halal Media Japan. 

The MUSLIM-FRIENDLY TOHOKU PR Japan representative office, run by Sunny Side Up  is looking to increase the number of facilities taking part in the campaign, while enhancing tourists' experiences of MUSLIM-FRIENDLY omotenashi. Tours featuring Tohoku's unique history and nature have been created along the lines of the well-travelled Golden Routes that highlight Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Kyoto. Information on MUSLIM-FRIENDLY facilities and tours is also introduced through websites for inbound tourists such as JAPANiCAN. 

Explore: 

Check out Tohoku on JAPANiCAN

*Muslim-friendly refers to services that are extended with compassion and understanding of the special needs of Muslim visitors, but does not come with formal halal certification. Muslim-friendly venues may offer pork-free and alcohol-free menus, providing ingredient labelling of meals on menus, and set aside spaces for prayers and purification. 

Qatar launches Feed the Pilgrims, Udhiya campaigns for 2016

Source: Qatar Charity. Donations canvassed to feed Hajj pilgrims.

Qatar Charity has launched its Feed the Pilgrims campaign for 2016 (1437) for the fourth consecutive year, allocating QR500,000 to help achieve social integration between Muslims during the Hajj season. The agency seeks to provide 33,000 meals to feed pilgrims of all races and age groups, male and female, with each meal costing QR15.

Faisal Rashid Al Faheeda, Executive Director of the Executive Management of Operations at Qatar Charity, called on the people of Qatar to participate in the privilege of helping the pilgrims so that they are freed from worrying about their meals and can focus totally on worship. Through this project, Qatar Charity provides an opportunity to all benevolent people and well-doers to serve Hajj pilgrims. Donors can choose to feed as many pilgrims as they wish.


Qatar Charity has also launched the Udhiya (أضحية) campaign for 2016, through which it aims to provide 26,040 sacrifices (udhiyas) including cows and sheep to people of 37 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe for qurban. This year’s campaign is characterised by additional new projects, some to be implemented for the first time. The Sacraments and Commitments Project (worth QR3,600,000); Adahi Patrimony; the Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah Charity; and the Pilgrim’s Gift (worth QR212,112,00). Repeat initiatives include Substitutionary Hajj (QR4,500,000); Eid clothing, both inside and outside of Qatar (QR1,100,000); and the Feed the Pilgrims project (QR500,000).

The Substitutionary Hajj campaign meets the desires of those unable to perform the Hajj obligation at a cost of QR3,000. Hajj is performed by shari'ah students, mosque imams and trusted teachers of the Quran on behalf of deceased people or those unable to carry out Hajj and the like. The donor receives a confirmation and promise that all the rituals were performed and a stamped and authenticated discharge confirming that the substitute has performed all the Hajj rituals.

Qatar Charity was able to distribute 17,825 meals last year to Hajj pilgrims at a cost of QR445,622. The funds came from the Feed the Pilgrims and Substitutionary Hajj projects.

Interested?

Donations can be submitted online, through Qatar Charity’s collection points and branches within the state, or through the hotline number: +974 4466 7711

Du running 30 Days of Sharing campaign, umrah call privileges for Ramadhan

UAE telco du is celebrating the values represented by the month of Ramadhan with its 30 Days of Sharing campaign throughout the month. Social media users can use the hashtag #30DaysofSharing on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to share what makes Ramadhan special to them.

The company will donate AED10 for every post made using the #30DaysofSharing hashtag to its annual iftar tables initiative, du said, in which iftar meals (meals for the breaking of the fast after sunset) will be distributed to those less fortunate at three locations across the UAE.

The campaign is part of a number of Ramadhan initiatives for the company, including activities for employees and sponsorship of the Al Majlis Ramadan tent at Madinat Jumeirah. Du has also invited the public to help to distribute the iftar meals, and allocated AED1.57 million, 5% of the monthly fees from its Emirati Plan subscriptions, to employ 25 Emirati women to cook meals for distribution through the Mawaed Al Rahman locations.

Du has also created a Ramadhan offer specially for umrah. Customers travelling to Saudi Arabia during Ramadhan will enjoy unlimited free incoming calls on all networks. The offer is automatically activated as soon as the customer activates roaming on their mobile before travelling, the telco said.

There is also a Smart Plan offer in force this month. Subscribers can select a preferred local national, mobile or landline number and get 300 minutes free to call that number anywhere in the UAE, on any network, during Ramadhan with the with The Smart Plan 300, 600 and 1000. Subscribers which opt in can also enjoy more minutes for the month: 600 flexible minutes for AED300 per month, 1,200 flexible minutes for AED600 per month or 2,500 flexible minutes for AED1,000 and up to 12GB of data.

Hashtag: #30DaysofSharing

Al Hilal Bank conducts social media-based Jood Bil Khair campaign

Al Hilal Bank, an Abu Dhabi-based Islamic bank, announced June 26 that it will be conducting a 'Jood Bil Khair’ (do good) campaign this Ramadhan where will match AED1 with each public post or hashtag at its social media network as well as shared videos related to the campaign. 

The amount accumulated will be transferred from a special ‘Al Hilal Charity’ account to over 10 charities across the country.

Under the partnership agreement with Shaabiat Al Cartoon, a popular Emirati animated TV show, the 10th episode to be shown during the Ramadhan season will feature Al Hilal Bank. The plot focuses on how Afary, the heroine, teaches her brother Mohair the advantages of saving money in a bank (through an Al Hilal Seghaar account) rather than just keeping it at home. A contest to be held on social media afterwards will award prizes to participants who correctly answer questions about the special episode.

Source: Twitter.

“We at Al Hilal Bank always come up with unique ways to complement the spirit of giving and genuine compassion that Ramadhan embodies. This year we have a unique opportunity to send across Al Hilal Bank’s message to a broader audience through one of the country’s popular television shows. As in everything else we do, our passion for community works during Ramadhan and throughout the year reflects the sense of social responsibility, innovation, and excellence that has differentiated us in our industry,” said Mohammed Jamil Berro, Group CEO, Al Hilal Bank.

‘Jood Bil Khair’ is one of four main pillars of Al Hilal Bank’s Ramadan 2014 initiatives which will also emphasize joy, health and religion, reflecting the bank’s belief that Ramadhan is a period of giving, praying, family and well-being. Al Hilal Bank’s social media content will touch on these key messages throughout this year’s observance of Ramadhan.

Last Ramadhan, the bank collected a significant sum from its ‘Art of Donation’ campaign which collected smiles using special machines and converted them to cash for distribution to various charities.

Al Hilal Bank was established in June 2008 and is fully owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, the investment arm of the Government of Abu Dhabi. The bank is shari'ah compliant and operates through a network of 22 branches located across the United Arab Emirates as well as 3 branches in major cities of Kazakhstan.