Hong Kong named third most Muslim-friendly non-Islamic travel hotspot

South China Morning Post

16-06-2025

Hong Kong has been recognised as the third most Muslim-friendly travel destination in the world among non-Islamic economies, according to the Mastercard-CrescentRating 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index. Although this marks a one-place improvement for the city, some industry insiders believe there is still potential for better attracting more visitors.
On Friday, the Hong Kong Tourism Board announced the ranking, and the city was also awarded the title of 'Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year.'
CrescentRating, a Singapore-based research and consultancy firm specialising in the Muslim travel market, was commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourism Board last year to assess and rate the city's facilities for their Muslim-friendliness.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on social media that he was 'delighted' with the latest ranking.
'These international accolades fully recognise Hong Kong's efforts in promoting halal tourism,' he said, noting that creating a more Muslim-friendly environment for travellers was part of his policy address last year.
'I am grateful for the active participation of various industries in promoting halal tourism, which has significantly enhanced our tourism offerings.
'Moving forward, the government will continue to strengthen promotional efforts to highlight Hong Kong's Muslim-friendly image and encourage more businesses to provide high-quality services.'
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Board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok expressed delight at the accolades and said that his office, in collaboration with the government and tourism trade partners, had worked together to position Hong Kong as a Muslim-friendly destination.
'We have done this through a three-pronged approach of accreditation, education and promotion to diversify the city's visitor source markets and visitor segments,' he said.
'We have also facilitated the fostering of closer ties between Hong Kong, the Middle East, and Asean countries in recent years.'
The report highlighted Hong Kong's accelerated efforts to attract Muslim visitors, aiming to diversify its market. It noted that since June last year, more than 60 establishments had received Muslim-friendly accreditation from CrescentRating.
According to the firm, which has so far rated 61 of the city's hotels for their Muslim-friendliness, nine hotels achieved the highest score of five, including the Island Shangri-La, Dorsett Tsuen Wan and Kerry Hotel.
The firm's ratings run from one to seven, but its guidelines state that the higher scores of six and seven are reserved for specialised accommodation catering to 'halal-conscious' travellers, offering halal food and meeting most of their specific needs.
The latest list was topped by Singapore, followed by the United Kingdom in second place. Taiwan secured fourth place, with Thailand ranking fifth.
Among Islamic destinations, Malaysia was first, followed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Sharifa Leung, founder of the food products supply and consultancy business Hani Halal, said that while progress had been made in the city, significant challenges remained beneath the surface, especially when it came to businesses' genuine understanding of Halal practices and Muslim culture.
Hong Kong aims to boost halal tourism with new accreditations and facilities. Photo: Dickson Lee
'Many businesses, including hotels and restaurants, lack proper training for their staff,' said Leung, a third-generation Muslim Hongkonger.
'They are eager to get certification, but it may be too rushed and before they fully understand the reasons behind some of the practices.'
For instance, she noted that some tourist attractions or accommodation provided ablution facilities for Muslims, who pray five times a day, but failed to realise that separate facilities for men and women were needed, often resulting in only one shared unit.
In other cases, prayer rooms featured large, reflective windows, conflicting with Islamic practice where distractions while praying should be avoided.
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Some food businesses also lacked understanding of halal practices, and assumed dishes could be considered halal after prayers, while others confused Urdu script for Arabic.
'While expanding halal food options in restaurants and hotels is essential, enhancing the overall tourist experience is equally important,' Leung said. 'We must strengthen the involvement of the Muslim community, foster connections and organise events that specifically attract Muslim travellers,' he added.
'Investing in professional training will ensure that hospitality personnel are sensitive to the dietary preferences of all visitors.'
Establishments owned or managed by Muslim staff tended to gain the trust of travellers from the same culture, she noted.