Mohammad Faisal appointed new DG of Islamic Tourism Centre
PUTRAJAYA: The Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) has appointed Mohammad Faisal Abu Suaib Khan as its new director-general effective today, marking a strategic move to strengthen Malaysia’s leadership in the global Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem.
Mohammad Faisal, who brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate and digital communications, has built a strong professional portfolio across tourism, event management, and destination-focused initiatives.
ITC in a statement today said Mohammad Faisal’s involvement with Malaysian tourism event companies and the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme has provided him with extensive exposure to both domestic and international tourism landscapes.
“With his extensive corporate and business background, Mohammad Faisal has been entrusted to lead ITC into its next phase of growth through transformational initiatives that tap into the expanding Muslim tourist market, projected to reach US$235 billion globally by 2030,” according to the statement.
ITC said his appointment reflected ITC’s strategic intent to further strengthen its global leadership in the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) ecosystem.
Commenting on his appointment, Mohammad Faisal said his focus for 2026 would be to position ITC as a key enabler in strengthening Malaysia’s role as a regional umrah hub, while broadening the international reach of the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR) initiative in priority markets.
“I look forward to engaging closely with tourism industry players and counterparts to build trust and deliver long-term value to the economy,” he said.
Mohammad Faisal has also demonstrated active engagement in regional and international discourse.
In 2024, he attended The Dialogue on the International Image Innovation in Beijing, China, an international forum that convened global media and communication leaders.
A product of the Chinese school system in Malaysia, Mohammad Faisal is fluent in Mandarin, an asset that has supported his professional engagements and relationship-building efforts in China.
Mohammad Faisal holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UniRazak), specialising in Leadership and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).
ITC is an entity under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, tasked to develop the Islamic Tourism segment for Malaysia. It advocates for Muslim-friendly tourism by offering research and market intelligence, training, industry development consultation, MFTH services standards and recognition and information exchange. – BERNAMA
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