Is working in tourism halaal or haraam?.
Tourism nowadays means wanton display (tabarruj), mixing, alcohol, promiscuous parties, gambling and beaches on which ‘awrahs are uncovered. In some countries, in addition to the above, there is visiting the lands of the kuffaar which we are forbidden to go to and visit unless we are weeping. All of this goes against Islam and comes under the heading of cooperating in sin and transgression, and acquiring haraam earnings.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not enter upon these people who are being punished unless you are weeping; if you are not weeping then do not enter upon them, lest there befall you what befell them.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (423) and (3380); Muslim (2980).
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Lest there befall you” means for fear that there may befall you. The point here is that this weeping will make him think and reflect. It is as if he told them to think of the reasons why they should weep, for Allaah decreed that those people should be kaafirs even though He blessed them a great deal and gave them plenty of time to turn to Him, then His wrath and severe punishment befell them. Allaah is the One Who directs hearts as He wills and no believer can be certain that his end will not be like theirs. It also means thinking about how those people responded to the blessings of Allaah with ingratitude and how they did not benefit from their reasoning so that they might be guided to believe in Allaah and obey Him. So whoever passes by them and does not think about that which should make him weep and learn from their situation is like them in heedlessness; this indicates that he is hard-hearted and is not humble. He cannot be sure that this will not make him do what they did and that he will not meet with the same fate that befell them.
Fath al-Baari (1/531)
If we assume that tourism in your country or your company does not involve travelling to haraam places or helping them to do that, then it is permissible for you to work with them.
What you have to do, if you are working in a tourism company that spreads evil is hasten to give up this job, after advising those who work there to fear Allaah and avoid that which is haraam. If you are not working yet, then do not start working with them. Remember that that which is with Allaah is better and longer lasting, and do not nourish your body and the bodies of your children with haraam things. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
and it is
narrated in a saheeh report that our Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives up something for the sake of
Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than it.” Classed
as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) in Hijaab
al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah (p. 49).