Digital Traceability and Halal Supply Chain Assurance: Building Consumer Trust in Islamic Tourism and Hospitality

Abstract

Halal tourism and hospitality depend on more than the availability of Muslim-friendly facilities: consumers must be able to trust that food, ingredients, handling practices, accommodation services, and related experiences conform to the standards they expect. Digital traceability technologies—including blockchain-enabled records, QR-linked product information, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, digital certification registries, and interoperable data platforms—can make supply-chain evidence more accessible and strengthen assurance across fragmented service networks. Yet technology does not automatically produce trustworthy halal outcomes. Inaccurate source data, weak governance, inconsistent certification, privacy concerns, and poor consumer-facing communication can undermine the credibility of digital systems. The analysis proposes that traceability affects trust primarily through perceived transparency and assurance credibility, with certification governance and platform interoperability shaping the strength of these relationships. The article also identifies risks associated with “technology-washing,” fragmented standards, and the mistaken assumption that immutable records guarantee truthful inputs. It concludes with a set of testable hypotheses, an empirical research design, and strategic implications for destination managers, hospitality firms, halal certifiers, technology providers, and Islamic finance stakeholders.