REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Sultan Iskandar Muda international airport in Aceh has won the "World's Best Airport for Halal Travelers" title at the World Halal Tourism Award 2016. "We thank all parties for helping Sultan Iskandar Muda international airport win the World's Best Airport for Halal Travelers award," President Director of state-run airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) Muhammad Awaluddin said in a statement here on Wednesday.

This is the first time that an Indonesian airport has won the award. Last year, it was won by Abu Dhabi International Airport. "We hope that the award will encourage AP II to perform better in operating all airports under our management," he said, adding that the tourism ministry and voters had played an important role in the company winning the award.

Some 1.89 million voters from 116 countries participated in the voting to determine winners in 16 categories of the world halal tourism awards. A panel of judges comprising nine professionals from the global halal tourism industry confirmed that all nominees had fulfilled its criteria.

Indonesia won 12 of the 16 categories in the World Halal Tourism Award 2016, including World's Best Halal Culinary Destination, World's Best Halal Destination, and World's Best Honeymoon Destination Halal. "Sultan Iskandar Muda airport is committed to supporting the government in developing Aceh as a halal destination for international as well as domestic tourists," he added.

The company will play an active role in improving the halal tourism industry in Indonesia, he said. Sultan Iskandar Muda airport was built in modern Aceh architecture style, interlaced with traditional and Islamic nuances. It has three domes, one each representing religion, culture and education. After the strong earthquake that devastated Pidie Jaya district last week, the airport was put on standby mode to facilitate deployment of volunteers, relief material, and other essentials to the region.

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