Indonesian Migrants and the Development of the Halal Tourism Industry in Taiwan

Abstract This paper examines the pivotal role of Indonesian migrant communities in shaping Taiwan’s halal tourism sector, analysed through a transnationalism lens. Despite Taiwan’s predominantly Buddhist and Taoist culture, the island has become a prominent destination for Muslim travellers, ranking second among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries in halal tourism. However, the contributions of Indonesian Muslim migrants—comprising workers, students and professionals—remain largely overlooked. This study employs a qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews with Indonesian migrants, business owners and halal certification experts, complemented by field observations and secondary data. Its findings reveal that Indonesian migrants introduce halal food, bridge cultural gaps between local businesses and Muslim tourists and facilitate the halal certification process. The paper highlights how migrant communities, through transnational networks, contribute to the global exchange of cultural practices, tourism knowledge and business models.