What is Holding Back the Production of PondokStay?

Abstract

Malaysia’s Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) ecosystem thrives through structured initiatives such as the Muslim- Friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR) and the Muslim-Friendly Tourist Guide (MFTG). However, PondokStay, a spiritually focused retreat centered on traditional Islamic institutions and classical texts, has struggled to gain commercial traction. This viewpoint article consolidates insights from focal institutional and academic stakeholders to examine production constraints, institutional limits, and readiness challenges in establishing PondokStay. It proposes a multi-layered strategic roadmap to bridge spiritual preservation with commercial viability. By reconciling the sacred values of pondok with contemporary tourism frameworks, this article translates theoretical concepts into a practical, scalable operational model for Islamic heritage tourism, expected to enrich the existing niche sector.