While many traditional travel businesses were severely hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, London-based Walid Haji, 31, decided that 2021 was the right time to fulfil his dreams and launch a unique travel business, Rooh Travel.
A love of travel influenced the Maths degree student to work in the mainstream travel industry in order to pursue his passion for exploration. Yet during the three years of working with Bristol-based tour operator Wayfairer Travel and learning everything he could about running a tourism business, Walid noticed that there was a gap in the sector. There were no travel designers who specifically catered to the needs of travellers like him and his friends – young, adventurous, affluent and Muslim.
Before launching Rooh Travel, Walid would often be travelling for work or leisure and find it hard to find a hotel or resort that had halal dining options, or somewhere dedicated for him to pray. Friends would often ask Walid’s advice about how he found great places to visit and stay that still aligned with his religious practices, and over time Walid realised that he could make a viable business out of helping like-minded travellers. In 2021, amidst the chaos of the pandemic, Walid launched Rooh Travel.
Walid further explains; “There is an outdated perception that Muslim travellers only want to travel to Muslim countries, or visit friends and family abroad. Yet in my experience, this could not be further from the truth. My peers and my customers are proudly Muslim yet have a high disposal income and the curiosity to want to see the vast beauty of the world. They are modern explorers, looking for exceptional holidays. My business Rooh Travel caters to them by offering customised halal holidays and travel experiences. Rooh provides Muslim travellers a way to plan and book their holidays so they have the peace of mind in knowing their options are pre-vetted to fulfil their needs.
“In Rooh Travel’s first year, we helped over 100 Muslim travellers experience halal-friendly trips, receiving rave reviews for our attention to detail and personalised service. My business has grown by 84% in the last two years, and I couldn’t be happier, as that growth is set to continue. The UK travel industry is missing a trick by not taking more notice of the value of the Muslim Pound.”