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.