• The Muslim population is projected to grow from 2.12 billion in 2024 to 2.47 billion by 2034, increasing from 26% to 28% of the global population. (Global Muslim Travel Index GMTI 2024 report, Crescent Rating) Data suggests that in 2050, 1 in 3 people will be Muslims. There will be substantial growth in the middle age group (21-30 and 31-40). Middle class Muslims are growing in some countries such as the Gulf, Malaysia and Indonesia. These are significant for travel industry.
穆斯林人口急速增長，年青及中產群擴大，造就全球穆斯林旅客上升
• Estimated trend in coming 1-2 years: Muslim travel market growth to reach USD $300B by 2026. (Crescent Rating GMIT 2019). It was verified in 2024 GMIT report. By 2028, the Muslim traveler expenditure will reach USD 225 billion.
• Hong Kong is working towards consolidating its position as a global hub for tourism and investment, and one of the key focuses is to attract more travelers and capital from Muslim populated places.
香港正在發展高質量旅遊，包括吸納來自穆斯林的旅客及投資
• There is a need to develop Hong Kong’s tourism and cater for the Muslim market by enhancing Halal-friendly or Muslim-friendly experiences.
必須加快增加設穆斯林旅遊友善設施
Current Situation
1. Muslim inhabitants and cultural heritage in HK
• The British ships arrived HK in early 19th Century, opened the gate for the early Muslims settling down in HK
• The first Muslim Mosque known as Lascar Temple (Jamia Mosque) was built in 1849 (declared monument)
• Today there are more than 300,000 Muslims in HK (approx. 4-5% of HK population, including 140,000 Indonesian domestic helpers)
• Islam or Muslim has been part of HK’s culture. HK has five mosques, of which the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre is the biggest. There are other Islamic centres or madrassahs in HK Island, Kowloon and New Territories
• Indonesia 印尼 203,243人次(+74.9%) (In April, visitors from Indonesia jumped by more than 80% year on year, driven by the end of Ramadan)
• Malaysia 馬來西亞 204,679 (+95.5%)
• GCC Markets 海灣合作地區國家 16,035 (+136.1%)
• CSTB’s reply to LegCo 31 Jan 2024: 文體旅局估計今年來自中東旅客將會上升
Visitor arrivals from Middle East countries (2014-2019) : around 140,000 to 190,000 annually (0.3 of total visitor arrivals/1.3% of non-Mainland v.a.)
Visitor arrivals from Middle East countries (2023): 58,500 (0.2% of total visitor arrivals/ 0.8% non-Mainland v.a.) With the gradual resumption of flights between Middle East and HK, no. of visitors from this region is expected to increase in 2024.
Current Situation
3. Direct flights & diverse markets
• The government has been trying to tap the wealthy Middle Eastern market to diversify the Hong Kong economy including investment & tourism.
• Direct passenger flights to Riyadh, the capital and financial centre of Saudi Arabia will start from October 28 this year.
香港直航來往沙特主要城市利雅德，將於今年10月28日開始
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar would like to add more direct flights with Mainland China & HK.
Saudi Arabia govt hopes to attract 5 million Chinese tourists by 2030. #
香港必須擴大中東客源市場
• Hong Kong has access to over 30% of the world’s Muslim population with a 3-to 6-hour flight. HK is well positioned to develop the Muslim market.
只需3至6小時航程，香港已可直達三成穆斯林人口地區
#16 May 2024, SCMP
Current Situation
Three Categories of Halal Restaurants:
(certified by The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of HK)(BOT)香港回教信託基金總會
• Halal Restaurant: 41
• Halal Kitchen Restaurant: 58
• Halal Friendly Restaurant: 24
• Other restaurants including central kitchens and university canteens: 21
• Total: 144. More restaurants and eateries have asked to join recently. It will be approximately 200
Current Situation
4. HK has limited halal dining options
• Only more than 100 halal-certified eateries across the city, just 0.6 per cent of the nearly 18,000 licensed food establishments.
• Hong Kong still has a way to go to cater to Muslim tourists who want to try Cantonese
5. Limited promotion on Halal food & restaurant certification
• Halal Restaurant
• Halal Kitchen Restaurant
• Halal Friendly Restaurant # from one local halal food blogger
Current Situation
Current Situation
Application fee of Halal Certified Food Premises (valid for one year)
申請清真食肆認證費用及所需時間
Staff members 1-5 HKD 2500
Staff members 6-10 HKD 3500
Staff members 11+ HKD 5000
Hotels HKD 6000
(processing time: 6 weeks)
Current Situation
6. Muslim-friendly hotels with high international rating not enough, inadequate promotion
達致5星評級酒店不多及宣傳不夠 (Crescent Rating: 1-7)
Halal/Muslim Friendly Hotel Rating Standards (crescentrating.com)
Hotel Alexandra (3)
Regal HK Hotel (3)
Grand Hyatt HK (3)#
Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West (3)
HK Ocean Park Marriott Hotel (5)
Novotel Century HK (3)
Island Shangri-La (3), Kowloon ShangriLa(5)
Kerry Hotel HK (3)
Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour HK(3) The Murray HK (3)
Four Seasons Hotel HK (4)
Regala Skycity Hotel (3)
Harbour Grand HK (3)
AKI HK- Mgallery (3)
Harbour Plaza North Point (3)
Nina Hotel Island South (3)
• Visitors can book their rated Muslim-friendly hotels on halal trip website
• Hotels with halal certified restaurants : nearly 20
Current Situation
7. Tourism Board has made some efforts this year but govt support not enough
• Dubai-headquartered Emirates airline and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote inbound tourism into Hong Kong. The MoU is part of the HKTB’s efforts to increase tourism initiatives within and for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market.
• The parties will promote Hong Kong as a destination for GCC residents. Initiatives include the HKTB’s Travel in Luxe Hong Kong guide, featuring a wide range of luxury experiences and halal-friendly activities for GCC visitors. ‘Cultural Encounters’ includes visits to the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the city’s architectural wonders; ‘Exploring Hong Kong in Style’ includes sailing on a yacht, a city helicopter tour; and luxury shopping; ‘Family Bonds’ provides VIP tours at key attractions, such as the Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park; and ‘Exquisite Services’ offers bespoke shopping experiences, meals with elite chefs, customised adventure itineraries, and martial arts lessons with renowned masters.
• Tourism Board has invited 10 Middle Eastern entrepreneurs and travel trade representatives to visit Hong Kong to look into ways to encourage GCC citizens to visit.
Current Situation
8. Crescent Rating Global-Muslim Travel Index 2023&2024
“Top Ten Non-OIC destinations”(新月評級2024報告，非伊斯蘭合作地區組織十大清真友善旅遊地區)
Policy Objectives
Develop HK as Muslim-friendly tourist destination
推動香港成為穆斯林友善旅遊城市
Increase the numbers of Muslim travelers from South East Asian, Middle East, the Mainland and around the world
吸引更多境外穆斯林旅客到港旅遊，或經香港前往內地或到亞洲地區
Promote the diverse development of tourism industry
進一步發展優質及多元旅遊市場
Enhance Muslim-friendly facilities
提供更多便利穆斯林旅客設施
Promote Muslim cultural heritage
推廣香港既有的穆斯林文化
Policy Proposals
Halal Dining Options/Halal food
1. Increase Halal dining options for Muslim travelers 增加穆斯林旅客餐飲選擇
• Roll out a new subsidized halal food certification system with the collaboration of BOT, encourage more restaurants to obtain halal certificate from BOT
• Govt. subsidy to promote halal food, halal food certification, organize training or briefing session. To train hotel, F&B staff to understand the needs of Muslim customers & their culture
推出政府資助認證計劃
2. Encourage hotels or F&B outlets to provide fine dining options for Muslim travelers especially Chinese or Cantonese fine dining 提供精緻或高檔餐飲及中式或廣東菜美食
3. Organize Halal or Halal-friendly Chinese gastronomy awards activity or culinary contest
4. Encourage supermarket retail chains in tourist districts to set up Halal food corners 推廣有清真認證食品，鼓勵旅客區超市有清真食品專櫃
5. Design halal foodie guide and app 設計清真美食指南及程式
• Include halal food spots, pastry shops, vegetarian eateries, top halal food picks
Policy Proposals
Halal Tourism
1. Encourage travel industry to launch Muslim-friendly day tours
鼓勵旅行社推出精品遊路線及行程
• i.e. half-day, 1D, 2D1N or 3D2N tours. Travel industry could provide discounted travel package with govt subsidy
2. Promote M Mark major sports events like Cricket, Hockey, Soccer or Tennis
Championship tickets to the Muslim markets
• introduce tailor-made tour packages for Muslim travelers
迎合穆斯林旅客喜愛的運動，配合大型活動盛事推出優惠套餐
3. Explore more high-quality, personalized experience travel packages for luxury Muslim travelers e.g. arts and culture, opera performances, sailing or helicopter experiences, fine-dining 推出高消費及獨特體驗產品，如直升機短遊香港、帆船休閒等
Policy Proposals
Halal Tourism
3. Encourage hotels to apply for high international rating
• Provide facilities such as prayer room or space
• All rooms have the prayer direction marked/Qibla indicator
• Prayer time-table available at the front desk or room
鼓勵香港的酒店成為穆斯林友善酒店，並有較高評級
4. Encourage major shopping arcades or mall to provide prayer rooms
• Pray 5 times a day and must perform ritual washing before each prayer)
鼓勵穆斯林旅客較多的購物區，大型商場增設祈禱室或空 間
Policy Proposals
Halal Tourism
5. Design Muslim-friendly guidebook and app
• Suggest themed itineraries for reference including attractions, local art & culture attractions, tips for Muslimfriendly facilities
• Interactive map or app to find out mosques, madrassahs or prayer rooms nearby 設計不同旅遊主題路線及手機程式，方便旅客尋找最接近的祈禱地點、 有提供清真食物或手信的地點
6. Utilize social media platforms, travel blogs, and influencers to reach potential travelers
• Let local Muslims introduce HK
• Arrange well-known international Muslim influencers to promote HK善用社交媒體及穆斯林網紅推廣香港
7. Participate in international travel and tourism trade shows in the Middle East or ASEAN countries to promote HK 針對中東及東南亞市場，加強在當地推廣香港穆斯林旅遊體驗
8. Set up a taskforce team under CSTB to proactively promote Halal tourism and Halal food certification 成立清真旅遊工作專組
• Support the travel industry to provide staff with training in Islamic or Arabic culture
Policy Proposals
Halal Tourism
Suggested itinerary:
Route 1: Kowloon Muslim Friendly Tour
Kowloon Mosque Tour Chung King Mansion (lunch – Hung’s
Chinese Restaurant) Museums @Tsim Shai Tsui Star Ferry
