In a strategic move to attract more Muslim travelers, Hong Kong has unveiled a significant expansion of its halal-certified facilities, including over 130 local restaurants and 39 hotels. This initiative comes as part of the city’s broader efforts to tap into the burgeoning Muslim tourism market, particularly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Middle East.
At a press conference held yesterday at the IFC mall, Becky Ip Ching-tak, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, emphasized the immense potential of Muslim tourism. “By 2028, we expect 230 million Muslim visitors, generating global tourism revenues of approximately US$225 billion (HK$1.75 trillion),” she stated.
Ip highlighted the city’s growing appeal to travelers from ASEAN and Middle Eastern countries, underlining the opportunity to leverage the high spending power of Muslim tourists. Current data indicates that Muslim visitors to Hong Kong tend to stay overnight and spend an average of HK$6,700—significantly higher than the HK$5,300 average for non-Muslim tourists.
To ensure the city meets the needs of Muslim travelers, the Hong Kong Tourism Board collaborated with CrescentRating, a renowned halal travel consultancy. The organization evaluated local hotels and venues for their Muslim-friendliness on a scale of 1 to 7, with level 7 representing the highest standard.
Ip reported that out of 57 hotels assessed, 39 achieved halal certifications with ratings between 3 and 5, indicating essential amenities such as prayer facilities and halal breakfast options. Notably, the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel and Kowloon Shangri-La received a level 5 rating, featuring dedicated prayer spaces, halal menus for room service, and in-house halal-certified restaurants.
The culinary scene is also responding to the demand for halal options. A total of 132 local restaurants have received halal certification from the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. Among these, Chinesology in Central has made history as the first high-end traditional Chinese restaurant to earn halal-friendly certification, offering 20 halal Chinese dishes.
Chau Sai-to, the restaurant’s operations and culinary director, expressed excitement about the certification. “We hope to show our hospitality to customers from different cultural backgrounds by introducing halal-friendly dishes,” he said. Chinesology underwent a rigorous six-month preparation process to secure its certification, which included menu development, specialized kitchen training, and the establishment of dedicated cooking areas for halal food.
Chinesology also features Muslim set menus, with options priced between HK$600 to HK$800 for a six-dish lunch and HK$1,200 to HK$1,500 for an eight-dish dinner.
In addition to these offerings, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has launched a dedicated webpage for Muslim visitors at www.discoverhongkong.com, providing a one-stop resource for information on halal dining, accommodations, and attractions.
As Hong Kong positions itself as a prominent destination for Muslim travelers, the city’s commitment to enhancing its halal offerings signals a welcoming and inclusive approach to tourism that embraces diverse cultural backgrounds.
