The Potential of the Islamic Tourism Industry Based on Education in Pondok Institutions in Malaysia

Islamic tourism refers to travel activities that comply with the principles of Islamic law (Shariah). One of the notable segments within this sector is educational tourism, which emphasizes religious knowledge and intellectual enrichment. The existence of Islamic educational centers both traditional and modern serves as a strong attraction in promoting the culture of knowledge, which holds a central position in Islamic teachings. Among these, pondok institutions, as traditional Islamic educational establishments, possess significant potential to become hubs for Islamic tourism. Educational-based Islamic tourism within these institutions represents a form of travel that combines religious learning with meaningful experiences and has been growing steadily in Malaysia. The longstanding presence of pondok institutions has strengthened intellectual culture among Muslim communities, while their environment, scholarly teachers, syllabi, and unique teaching systems have successfully attracted knowledge-seeking tourists. This study adopts a qualitative methodology, employing library research and descriptive content analysis to explore the potential of pondok-based educational Islamic tourism in Malaysia. Findings indicate that this form of tourism has vast potential to contribute to the national tourism industry, although it is still in the early stages of development. Furthermore, it can position pondok institutions as prominent destinations for scholarly and spiritual tourism in both domestic and regional contexts. Recommendations are proposed to further develop and institutionalize pondok-based Islamic tourism, thereby generating substantial social and educational benefits for the wider community.