Hong Kong Recognized for Its Muslim-Friendly Tourism Initiatives
Asia/Tourism/Travel

Hong Kong Recognized for Its Muslim-Friendly Tourism Initiatives

Hong Kong is increasingly acknowledged as a welcoming and affordable destination for Muslim travelers, achieving high rankings in global tourism indices.

Hong Kong Achieving Recognition as a Muslim-Friendly Destination

The Hong Kong SAR is gaining traction as a warmly welcoming, affordable, and safe destination for Muslim travellers from Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Chinese special autonomous region was recently ranked third among halal destinations outside the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in CrescentRating and Mastercard’s 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index.

This is a step up for Hong Kong from last year when it was ranked fourth. Hong Kong also ranked second globally in the Muslim Women Friendly Travel Destination (Non-OIC) category and made its debut in first place on the new Muslim-friendly Accessible Travel Destination sub-index.

These rankings highlight Hong Kong’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive environment for Muslim visitors.

A Growing Destination for Muslim Travellers

With these achievements, Hong Kong also won the title of Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year. Visitor arrivals from Singapore increased by 12.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025.

Several Hong Kong establishments have been recognized for enhancing the Muslim travel experience, including:

  • Muslim-friendly Hotel of the Year: Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
  • Muslim-friendly Hotel of the Year: The Mira Hong Kong
  • Muslim-friendly Attraction of the Year: Ngong Ping 360 Limited
  • Muslim-friendly Convention & Exhibition Centre of the Year: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Commitment to Inclusivity

Hong Kong is deepening its commitment to inclusive and halal-conscious tourism, supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). Efforts include expanding the number of hotels participating in CrescentRating accreditation, which evaluates key Muslim-friendly services such as halal food availability and prayer facilities.

Currently, the city boasts 193 hal ideally certified and Muslim-owned eateries, and 61 hotels have been accredited by CR, showcasing Hong Kong’s dedication to providing a vibrant Muslim-friendly tourism experience.

According to HKTB’s regional director Liew Chian Jia: “Since our Muslim-friendly push, HKTB has seen increasing interest and participation in CR’s accreditation program among Hong Kong stakeholders. To support this initiative within the Southeast Asia region, we have initiated a dedicated Muslim campaign named Jelajah Hong Kong that highlights Muslim-friendly experiences for ease of trip planning. We will continue our efforts to elevate Hong Kong as a leading Muslim-friendly destination.”

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