Saad (right), Tayyibah (left) and their son, from east London, UK, walk on the beach at the Wome Deluxe hotel, one of many hotels on Turkey's southern coastline, catering to the halal tourism market. The Wome Deluxe opened as an Islamic friendly hotel in 2015.
Men on a pier at the mixed gender beach area of the Adin Beach hotel in southern Turkey. The blue and white screens conceal the women-only area of the beach, not in shot. Halal hotels have gender segregated areas, don't have alcohol on the premises, serve only halal food, have prayer areas and mosques, and also require a modest dress code.
The Halal-friendly tourism industry is the fastest growing global travel sector. For observant muslims looking for a package holiday in the sun, the halal holiday market fits their religious requirements of piety. Halal friendly hotels and resorts are increasingly prevalent in Turkey, with half of the world’s halal hotels located in the country.
Halal hotels don’t allow alcohol on site, serve only halal meals, have gender segregated swimming pools, spas, gyms, and beach areas, and require a modest dress code for women in common areas.
Halal friendly resorts also offer on site prayer and mosque facilities, and have erected large screens and walls to ensure the female-only areas can’t be seen by anyone in the hotel, or even by those at sea, guaranteeing 100% privacy.
Popular mostly with a combination of European Muslims and Turks, the resorts capitalise on the ostracising feeling many observant Muslims have on a regular package beach holiday.
Beds, a Quran and a TV remote in a room of the Modern Saraylar hotel in southern Turkey.
Protective screens surround the women-only pool and beach area of the Wome Deluxe hotel in southern Turkey. Halal hotels have sex segregated swimming areas, as well as mixed family areas.
A man takes a water slide at the Adin Beach hotel in southern Turkey. The hotel is halal friendly, meaning that there are gender segregated areas, no alcohol, and modest clothing requirements.
Europe, Turkey, Alanya. A man sits in the lobby of the halal friendly Adenya Hotel and Resort in southern Turkey, with a framed photo of a flower with the word 'Allah' written in Arabic hangs on the walls of a stairwell.
A women only swimming pool area of a halal hotel in southern Turkey. Sex segregated swimming areas are divided by walls and/or screens to ensure female bathers privacy from the eyes of men, allowing women to wear what they like.
A sunbather on a section of the mixed gender beach at the Adin Beach halal hotel in southern Turkey.
The coastline around the Modern Saraylar hotel in southern Turkey with a dividing wall in the background indicating the women-only area of the beach. Halal hotels have sex segregated pool and beach areas, surrounded by walls and/or screens to ensure privacy for female guests.
A mosque in the Elvin Deluxe halal hotel in southern Turkey. Halal hotels are increasingly common, catering to the demands of the pious Muslim clientele, including mosques, gender segregated pool and beach areas, no alcohol, halal food, and modest surroundings.
Muhammed (centre) from Bradford, UK, plays with his children on the mixed gender beach of the Wome Deluxe halal hotel in southern Turkey.
Clocks at the reception of the Wome Deluxe hotel in southern Turkey, featuring Mecca, the holiest site in the world for Muslims. The Wome Deluxe is a halal friendly hotel catering to the pious Muslim tourist, with specific facilities including mosques, and gender segregated pool and beach areas.
A hotel guest prays in the afternoon at the Wome Deluxe hotel near Antalya, southern Turkey.
Muslim prayer times are listed in the lobby of the Selge Beach hotel near Alanya, southern Turkey. The hotel is one of many halal hotels catering to the pious Muslim tourist.
A father and son play in the men only section of the Adenya Hotel and Resort swimming pool. Halal hotels have sex segregated swimming pools, beaches, and spa facilities.
Modest Muslim swimming costumes called burkini on sale in a shop at the Wome Deluxe hotel near Alanya, Turkey.
An employee at the Selge Beach hotel near Alanya, southern Turkey, shows visiting travel agents from across Europe the layout of the hotel, including a special enclosed women-only area. The hotel is one of many halal hotels catering to the religiously observant Muslim tourist.
Posters of women wearing the burkini, a modest Muslim bathing suit on the walls of the Club Hotel Karaburun halal hotel in southern Turkey.
A high wall surrounds the women-only section of the swimming pool at the Selge Beach report near Alanya, southern Turkey. The hotel was converted into a halal friendly hotel, and the swimming pool has been divided into two, by this wall, leaving one section for men and one for women.
A barbershop in the Adenya Hotel and Resort, a halal hotel in southern Turkey catering to the pious Muslim market. The halal holiday market is a growing sector of Turkey's tourism industry.
A range of burkinis on sale in a shop at the Selge Beach resort. The hotel is one of many halal hotels catering to the religiously observant Muslim tourist.
A security guard at the entrance of the women only swimming and sunbathing area of the Wome Deluxe hotel in southern Turkey. Women entering the area have to place cameras, and mobile phones into lockers prior to entering.
A framed portrait of a mosque hangs on the walls of the Adenya Hotel and Resort, a halal hotel in southern Turkey.
A family play in the mixed-sex pool of the Wome Deluxe halal friendly hotel, southern Turkey. Women swim in burkinis in mixed-sex areas.
A high wall surrounds the women-only section of the swimming pool at the Selge Beach report near Alanya, southern Turkey. The hotel was converted into a halal friendly hotel, and the swimming pool has been divided into two, by this wall, leaving one section for men and one for women.
Beds decorated with flowers and towel art at a halal hotel in southern Turkey.
A sign for a mosque in the lobby of the Selge Beach hotel near Alanya, southern Turkey. The hotel is one of many halal hotels catering to the pious Muslim tourist.
Protective screens surround the women-only beach area of the Wome Deluxe hotel in southern Turkey. Halal hotels have sex segregated swimming areas, as well as mixed family areas.
A Quran, prayer mat, misbaha beads and a taqiyah cap, all commonly used during muslim prayers, found inside the wardrobe of a room in the Wome Deluxe hotel, a halal hotel catering to the pious Muslim holidaymaker.
A high wall surrounds the women-only section of the swimming pool at the Selge Beach report near Alanya, southern Turkey. The hotel was converted into a halal friendly hotel, and the swimming pool has been divided into two, by this wall, leaving one section for men and one for women.