Latest news with #CrescentRating
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index reveals trends shaping the future of Halal travel
Dubai, UAE – As awareness of Muslim travelers' needs grows, Halal travel is increasingly shaping how destinations design and deliver experiences. According to the newly released 2025 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), international Muslim arrivals reached 176 million in 2024 – up 25% from 2023 – and are projected to grow to 245 million by 2030. By then, total travel spending is expected to reach USD$230 billion, highlighting the growing influence and economic potential of this vibrant market. To stay competitive, travel and tourism stakeholders must adapt to the evolving needs of Muslim travelers, prioritizing purpose, inclusivity, and digital innovation. The 10th edition of the GMTI identifies the key trends and destination leaders shaping the future of Halal-friendly travel. Key Consumer Trends Impacting Halal Travel GMTI 2025 highlights five important trends shaping Muslim travel preferences today: Smart Apps for Halal Journeys: Muslim travelers are embracing digital tools that offer seamless access to faith-aligned services and personalized experiences. The Modern Female Muslim Traveler: Women are shaping the Halal travel sector in powerful ways, driving demand for safer, inclusive, and thoughtfully designed spaces. Muslim-friendly facilities: Destinations that offer alcohol-free environments, Halal-certified dining, prayer facilities, and gender-segregated pools and spas are becoming essential. Solo Travel Surge: Younger Muslim travelers are embracing solo adventures, favoring autonomy and personalized itineraries. Digital Detox Retreats: Inspired by Islamic values of mindfulness and balance, many travelers are seeking tech-free escapes rooted in nature and spirituality. Destinations Leading the Way in Muslim-Friendly Travel The GMTI 2025 highlights leading destinations around the world that are setting benchmarks in Muslim-friendly travel. Among OIC destinations, Malaysia retains the top spot, recognized for its accessible Halal-friendly services and infrastructure. Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share the second spot, each offering a strong combination of cultural heritage, modern amenities, and dedicated efforts to enhance the Muslim travel experience. Indonesia also ranks highly, supported by its rich cultural appeal. Other notable destinations in the Gulf region include Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, all of which continue to strengthen their offerings for Muslim travelers. Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore remains the leader – recognized for its emphasis on inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. Thailand and the Philippines are steadily emerging as rising Muslim-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia. Thailand offers warm hospitality and a growing range of Halal-certified services, while the Philippines is enhancing its capacity to serve Muslim travelers through better Halal food access and Muslim-friendly features at key tourist sites. In addition, Hong Kong has emerged as standout non-OIC destination, ranking third in the GMTI 2025. The city has invested significantly in Muslim-friendly infrastructure, with 61 hotels accredited by CrescentRating and 153 restaurants Halal-certified by the Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. Hong Kong also received the Most Promising Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year award, part of the Global Muslim Travel Index Awards. Taiwan has also continuously positioned itself as a Muslim-friendly destination, offering a welcoming environment that respects cultural and religious diversity. Over 230 restaurants and hotels have been Halal-certified by the Chinese Muslim Association, many of which include separate kitchens to meet dietary requirements. With the global Muslim travel market entering a dynamic new growth phase, GMTI 2025 serves as a timely guide for stakeholders looking to tap into this fast-evolving landscape. Download the full GMTI 2025 report here: About CrescentRating CrescentRating is the leading authority on Halal travel and tourism. The company uses insights, industry intelligence, lifestyle, behavior and research on the needs of the Muslim traveler to deliver authoritative guidance on all aspects of Halal travel to organizations across the globe. Founded in 2008, CrescentRating services are used by every tier of the tourism industry, from government bodies and tourism agencies to hospitality service providers, to better serve the needs of the Muslim traveler. CrescentRating's products and services include rating & accreditation, research & consultancy, training, & certification (CR Academy), industry reports, Halal-In-Travel conferences, HalalChefWorld program, destination marketing and content provisioning. HalalTrip is a sister brand of CrescentRating. Website: Facebook: Twitter: LinkedIn: About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Appendix – 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index Rankings and Awards GMTI 2025 Rank Top 10 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Destinations GMTI 2025 Rank Top 10 Non-OIC Destinations 1 Malaysia 1 Singapore 2 Türkiye 2 United Kingdom 2 Saudi Arabia 3 Hong Kong* 2 United Arab Emirates 4 Taiwan 5 Indonesia 5 Thailand 5 Qatar 6 Ireland 7 Oman 6 Australia 7 Kuwait 8 Philippines 9 Jordan 9 Spain 9 Iran 9 Germany *Hong Kong received the Most Promising Muslim Friendly Destination of the Year, having improved their GMTI score by 10 points – the biggest jump among non-OIC destinations.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Hong Kong named ‘Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination' by GMTI 2025
HONG KONG, June 16: Hong Kong has been recognised as the third most Muslim-friendly travel destination among non-Islamic economies in the Mastercard-CrescentRating 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), marking an improvement of one position from the previous year. While the recognition is seen as a positive step, industry insiders believe there is still room to better attract Muslim visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced the ranking on Friday, along with news that the city was also awarded the title of 'Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year.' CrescentRating, a Singapore-based consultancy specialising in the Muslim travel market, was commissioned by the Tourism Board last year to assess and rate Hong Kong's facilities in terms of Muslim-friendliness. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed his satisfaction with the accolade on social media, stating that the recognition highlights Hong Kong's efforts to promote halal tourism. He noted that enhancing Muslim-friendly offerings was part of his policy agenda from the previous year. 'I am grateful for the active participation of various industries in promoting halal tourism, which has significantly enhanced our tourism offerings,' Lee said. 'The government will continue to strengthen promotional efforts to enhance Hong Kong's Muslim-friendly image and encourage more businesses to provide high-quality services.' Peter Lam Kin-ngok, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, also welcomed the recognition. He said the Board had worked closely with the government and industry partners to position the city as a Muslim-friendly destination through accreditation, education, and promotion. 'We have also helped build closer ties with the Middle East and ASEAN countries in recent years,' Lam added. The GMTI report highlighted Hong Kong's increasing efforts to attract Muslim tourists and diversify its visitor market. Since June last year, over 60 establishments have received Muslim-friendly accreditation from CrescentRating. So far, 61 hotels in Hong Kong have been rated for their Muslim-friendliness by CrescentRating, with nine achieving the highest score of five. These include the Island Shangri-La, Dorsett Tsuen Wan, and Kerry Hotel. Ratings range from one to seven, though scores of six and seven are reserved for accommodations that meet the full range of needs for 'halal-conscious' travellers. Globally, Singapore topped the list of non-Islamic destinations, followed by the United Kingdom. Taiwan ranked fourth and Thailand fifth. Among Islamic destinations, Malaysia ranked first, followed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia. Despite Hong Kong's progress, Sharifa Leung, founder of the halal food consultancy Hani Halal, pointed out challenges that still exist in truly understanding halal practices and Muslim culture. 'Many businesses, including hotels and restaurants, lack proper staff training,' said Leung, a third-generation Muslim Hongkonger. 'They're eager to obtain certification, but often before fully grasping the reasons behind the practices.' Leung highlighted issues such as shared ablution facilities that overlook the need for gender separation, or prayer rooms with large reflective windows that contradict Islamic norms of minimal distraction during prayer. She also noted confusion in some food outlets where non-halal dishes were assumed to become halal after prayers, or Urdu script was mistaken for Arabic. 'Expanding halal food options is essential, but enhancing the overall tourist experience matters just as much,' Leung said. 'We need greater involvement of the Muslim community, cultural connection-building, and targeted events for Muslim travellers.' She emphasized that investing in professional training would ensure hospitality staff are better equipped to cater to Muslim guests and that businesses owned or managed by Muslims tend to earn greater trust from Muslim travellers.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong named third most Muslim-friendly non-Islamic travel hotspot
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.' Supporting Hong Kong's Muslim community during Ramadan 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. Muslim community in Tunisia uses artificial intelligence to preserve heritage 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.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong named third most Muslim-friendly non-Islamic travel destination
Hong Kong has been named the third most Muslim-friendly travel destination globally among non-Islamic economies, although some industry insiders believe there is still room for improvement in the city's efforts to attract more visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Friday that the city had moved up one place to third in the Mastercard-CresentRating's 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index for destinations outside the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Hong Kong was also named 'Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year' by the firm. 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 tourism facilities for their Muslim-friendliness. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on social media that he was 'delighted' with the latest ranking. 'This international recognition fully affirms Hong Kong's efforts in promoting Halal tourism,' he said, highlighting how creating a more Muslim-friendly environment for travellers was part of last year's policy address.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Halal Holidays Officially Launches HalalHolidaysasia to Meet the Soaring Demand for Muslim Friendly Travel Across Asia
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA / / May 31, 2025 / Halal Holidays today announced the official launch of its dedicated Muslim-friendly travel platform, addressing the rapidly expanding halal tourism sector projected to reach US$225 billion by 2028. The new platform offers fully halal-certified travel packages, accommodations, and seamless booking experiences specifically designed for faith-conscious travellers. The launch comes as industry research from CrescentRating indicates Asia is positioned to become the next major halal travel hotspot, with Muslim travellers increasingly seeking travel options that align with their religious requirements while still delivering premium experiences. "Halal Holidays was founded with a simple mission: to make it easy for Muslims to travel confidently and comfortably," said Vincent Tan, founder of Halal Holidays. "We understand that faith plays a crucial role in travel decisions, and our goal is to provide a platform whereMuslim travellers can find reliable, convenient, and fulfilling holiday options - all in one place." The newly launched website features a comprehensive range of halal-certified travel packages across popular Asian destinations, including Thailand, Japan, Turkey, the Maldives, South Korea, Indonesia, and the UAE. Each package guarantees essential Muslim-friendly amenities including 100% halal-certified meals, prayer facilities, modest accommodation options, and culturally sensitive services. differentiates itself through specialized offerings, including halal beach holidays, family-friendly packages, luxury escapes, cultural tours highlighting Islamic heritage sites, and Umrah Add-On Packages that combine spiritual journeys with leisure travel. The platform's Umrah series allows travellers to coordinate religious pilgrimages with visits to nearby countries while maintaining Islamic etiquette. "From search to booking, we've made sure delivers a frictionless and trustworthy experience," said Vincent Tan. "We want to eliminate the anxiety Muslims often feel when booking travel, especially when unsure about halal options abroad." The mobile-responsive platform enables users to browse packages by destination, theme, or travel type, with transparent information about included halal amenities. The site also offers real-time support from Muslim travel consultants fluent in English, Malay, and Arabic. Post-pandemic travel trends show Muslim travellers increasingly prioritizing meaningful experiences, spiritual rejuvenation, and ethical tourism options. Asia's cultural diversity, affordability, and growing Muslim population position it as an ideal region for halal tourism growth. The company has established strategic partnerships with halal-certified hotels, Islamic tour operators, restaurants, and community centres to build a comprehensive ecosystem for Muslim travellers. Future development plans include a mobile app, loyalty programs, and content collaborations with Muslim lifestyle influencers. "We're not just selling vacations. We're helping Muslims reconnect with the world, with their families, and with their faith - through travel," added Vincent Tan. For more information or to book a halal-certified holiday package, visit About Halal Holidays Halal Holidays is a specialized travel company dedicated to providing halal-certified, Muslim-friendly travel packages for modern travellers. With a focus on spiritual comfort, cultural discovery, and seamless booking experiences, the company serves individual travellers, families, and corporate groups throughout Asia and beyond. Contact Details Halal Holidays Vincent Tan+60 3-9282 3060info@ Company Website SOURCE: Halal Holidays View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
