ARTICLES · Volume 6, Issue 2 · 226-242 · April 2026 · Open Access

Mapping the Digital Ecosystem of Muslim-Friendly Tourism: Stakeholder Networks, Sentiment, and Themes on X

Asep Miftahuddin, Juliana Juliana, Lazuardi Imani Hakam, Rizqiana Arifatul Husna, Muhammad Apriandito Arya Saputra, Budhi Pamungkas Gautama
Download PDF Set Alert Get Rights Previous article Next article

Abstract

The rise of digital communication has reshaped the way tourism stakeholders interact, share information, and influence destination development. Muslim-Friendly Tourism has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the global industry; however, it has rarely been studied through a digital ecosystem lens. This study examines the halal tourism ecosystem by analyzing halal tourism conversations on X (formerly Twitter), mapping stakeholder interaction patterns, public sentiment, emotional responses, and dominant discussion themes. A dataset of 2,000 posts was collected via the SocialX platform between January 30, 2025, and March 30, 2026, and analyzed through an integrated framework combining Social Network Analysis, trend analysis, sentiment and emotion analysis, text clustering, topic modeling, and text network analysis. The network proved highly fragmented with 1,725 nodes, 1,417 directed edges, and 725 communities, reflecting the wide range of stakeholders involved; however, a few influential actors emerged as information brokers linking otherwise separate communities. Sentiment was predominantly neutral (46.75%), with positive sentiment (35.70%) clearly outweighing negative sentiment (17.55%), while happiness dominated the emotional landscape at 88.45%. The thematic analyses returned 14 discussion clusters and 117 topics, and the semantic network revealed three interconnected domains underpinning the ecosystem: the Destination and Policy Ecosystem, the Muslim Traveler Experience Ecosystem, and the Global Halal Travel Ecosystem. These findings extend Digital Ecosystem Theory to Muslim-Friendly Tourism and underscore the role of digital platforms in enabling stakeholder interaction, knowledge exchange, and value co-creation, offering practical guidance for policymakers, destination management organizations, and tourism businesses seeking to strengthen digital engagement and competitiveness

References (39)

  1. Abdullah, F. N., Anuar, A., Md Zani, R., & Ali Akbar, Y. A. (2025). Halal tourism: An integrative review of concepts, challenges, and future directions. Journal of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research, 13(2), 4486. https://doi.org/10.24191/jeeir.v13i2.4486
  2. Afren, S. (2024). The role of digital marketing promoting tourism business: A study of use of the social media in promoting travel. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(1), 272–287. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.1.2668
  3. Al Fajar, A. H., & Erlangga, D. (2025). The Role of Social Media and User-Generated Content in Traveler Decisions: A Literature Review. Journal of Tourism and Creativity, 9(1), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.19184/jtc.v9i1.53690
  4. Al-Ansi, A., Olya, H., & Han, H. (2022). Two decades of research on halal hospitality and tourism: a review and research agenda. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 35(6), 2017–2055. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-12-2021-1515
  5. Alshehri, A. (2024). Social Media in Tourism: A Twitter (X) Social Graph Approach to #Alula. Journal of Tourism and Services, 15(28), 253–267. https://doi.org/10.29036/jots.v15i28.715
  6. Arroyo, R., Lerias, A., Maliza, C., Odvina, S., Deiparine, E., & Roquero, L. (2023). Social Media as Tourism Marketing Tool: Evaluation on Tourist Perspective. International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology, 124–144. https://doi.org/10.48175/ijarsct-13118
  7. Assyifa, A. (2021). What People Say About Halal Tourism? Halal Tourism and Pilgrimage, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.58968/htp.v1i1.79
  8. Barbu, C. A., Popa, A., & Zaharia, R.-M. (2024). The Use of Digital Technologies in Tourism Management. Ovidius University Annals. Economic Sciences Series, 23(2), 394–401. https://doi.org/10.61801/ouaess.2023.2.48
  9. Çetin, G., & Dinçer, M. Z. (2016). Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT): A Discussion. Journal of Tourismology, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.26650/jot.2016.2.1.0005
  10. Chan, A., Suryadipura, D., Kostini, N., & Miftahuddin, A. (2021). AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF COGNITIVE IMAGE AND CITY BRAND EQUITY. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 35(2), 364–371. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.35214-660

Keywords

Citation

Asep Miftahuddin, Juliana Juliana, Lazuardi Imani Hakam, Rizqiana Arifatul Husna, Muhammad Apriandito Arya Saputra, & Budhi Pamungkas Gautama. (2026). Mapping the Digital Ecosystem of Muslim-Friendly Tourism: Stakeholder Networks, Sentiment, and Themes on X. Daengku: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Innovation, 6(2), 226–242. https://doi.org/10.35877/454RI.daengku4895
PublishedApril 30, 2026
Volume6 - 2026
Pages226-242

Statements

Copyright (c) 2026 Asep Miftahuddin, Juliana Juliana, Lazuardi Imani Hakam, Rizqiana Arifatul Husna, Muhammad Apriandito Arya Saputra, Budhi Pamungkas Gautama