Love at first sight. That’s what Nur Aimi felt (@HalalZilla) when she set foot inside the Mosque of Cordoba. And we are not talking about just any tourist. Aimi is a well-known Singaporean influencer, owner of the travel platform HalalZillaone of the most active in the country. “I had always been waiting for the day to go in,” he admits, “and when I did, I felt a mix of emotions like never before.”

Nur Aimi gained access to the universal monument in the last week of June. And he did so together with three other Asian leaders in tourism outreach, in the framework of an initiative promoted by the Las Fuentes Foundation, promoter of the Andalusian Medinas Network, with the support of the IMDEEC and the collaboration of Turespañato promote Cordoba as a destination for the thriving Muslim tourism. The four young influencers, who have more than 200,000 followers on social networks, combed Cordoba and its heritage attractions between June 27 and 29 to share their experiences among thousands of Internet users.

All of them came from Singapore and Malaysia, two Asian countries with a Muslim majority, where Al Andalus occupies a relevant place in the collective imagination as a mythical territory of the Islamic presence in the West. And this is acknowledged by the young researchers. “In Malaysia, the history and culture of Al Andalus appear in educational contexts,” stresses Nur Aimi. The Moroccan pavilion in Putrajaya exhibits Andalusian handicrafts and the Museum of Islamic Arts (IAMM) regularly hosts exhibitions on the culture of Al Andalus, some of them focused on the Alhambra. “Andalusian architecture is reflected in mosque designs in both countries and the legacy of Islamic Spain remains a popular topic in cultural talks, exhibitions and media,” says Aimi.

What impressed the digital creator the most Amira Rahmat was the “coexistence of Islamic, Christian and Jewish influences in the architecture and streets” of the city, and not only in the “famous” Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. “I felt like I was going back centuries in history,” she maintains. All the massive graphic material he managed to gather during his visit was shared through his Instagram and Tik Tok account with narratives about the history of Al Andalus and its Islamic roots.

Rahmat used some claim hooks aimed at his followers. “Did you know that Muslims ruled Cordoba for more than 500 years?” or “Enter the lost legacy of Al Andalus” were some of the phrases he chose to seduce the Internet users of his social networks and awaken their interest in Cordoba. The influencer is convinced that the old capital of Al Andalus will attract the interest of Asian tourists. “I believe it will inspire Muslim travelers to plan a visit to Spain to reconnect with this history,” she argues.

In her opinion, Cordoba is one of the “best destinations” for Muslim tourism, because it is one of the few European cities where Muslim travelers can “connect with their heritage”, thanks to its rich history, the availability of halal food, Muslim-friendly accommodations and exceptional architectural heritage. “Cordoba is now ready for halaltourism,” confirms Amira Rahmat.

The other two influencers, Amirul Haniff y Hamiza Hamidon openly admit that they had a very vague preconception about the historical and cultural value of Cordoba and Al Andalus. “This fam trip opened our eyes to how rich and important Cordoba is in the context of Islamic civilization,” they say. The two digital communicators maintain that it has been “inspiring” for them to learn about all the knowledge, architecture and culture that flourished in the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule. “Now we are excited to share it with our Malaysian audience,” they reason.

Both find it “incredible” to have seen how the city “keeps its history alive”. They were particularly impressed by the degree of preservation of the old medina, its narrow streets, beautiful courtyards and traditional architecture. “We really felt like we were walking back in time,” they stress. The Cathedral Mosque had a profound impact on them. “Cathedral and Mosque in the same building?”, they ask. “We’ve never seen anything like this.”

Haniff and Hamidon are sure that their followers will appreciate the cultural and touristic offerings they will make available on social networks. “Many are young Muslim couples, families and solo travelers looking for destinations with meaning. By showing Cordoba through our eyes, we hope to arouse curiosity and make it feel more accessible and welcoming,” they argue.

Nur Aimi will share her experience through her travel blog on the HalalZilla platform. She has already released two short reels. She has titled one of them How Cordoba stole my heart and it is already available on his Instagram profile. He also spread the word about his trip to Cordoba through her WhatsApp account, where she highlighted the “delicious halalfood” and the “captivating” enclaves of the city.

Cordoba will have a positive impact on Muslim travelers, according to Aimi. “It is a walkable, romantic, cozy and safe city. And almost every corner is photogenic,” adds the digital communicator, who also highlights the “affordable” prices of local restaurants for a European destination.

All four influencers retain a high valuation of Cordoba as a cultural and tourist destination for the Asian Muslim traveler. They believe that most will appreciate its amazing history and be dazzled by its Andalusian heritage. Amira Rahmat suggests the desirability of organizing hands-on workshops, for example, on Arab-Spanish fusion cuisine. “In my opinion, they help deepen cultural appreciation.” she underlines.

Haniff and Hamidon, on the other hand, they miss a broader offer of halal restaurants, clearer signage at Muslim-friendly sites and a prayer room near the most visited tourist spots. “With a few tweaks, we believe Cordoba could be a top choice for Muslim travelers from Malaysia and other countries.”