We would like to share a brief update following the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) internal seminar held on 15 June 2026 on the topic of Hong Kong’s Muslim-friendly tourism competitiveness.

The seminar was organised in connection with a policy research project supported under the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, and brought together representatives from government, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the hotel and tourism trade, academia, think tanks and the Islamic community to exchange views on how Hong Kong can enhance its attractiveness to Muslim visitors.

Hong Kong performed strongly in the CrescentRating 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index, ranking among the top three non-OIC destinations for the first time and being recognised as the Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination. Hong Kong was also ranked highly in the categories of Muslim-friendly accessible travel destination and Muslim women-friendly destination. These results reflect Hong Kong’s advantages in safety, infrastructure and multicultural vibrancy.

During the exchange, the Federation shared the key recommendations from our latest study, newly titled: “Enhancing Hong Kong’s Readiness for Muslim-Friendly Tourism: Industry Perspectives and Strategic Directions”.  Our study highlights that Hong Kong’s opportunity lies not only in halal-certified food provision, but in delivering a more complete and trusted visitor journey.  In particular, the report recommends that Hong Kong should:

1. Adopt a whole-of-experience approach
   Muslim-friendly tourism should cover accommodation, guest services, visitor information, prayer-related facilities, family-friendly arrangements, cultural sensitivity and ease of travel, rather than focusing narrowly on dining alone.

2. Develop clearer standards and more trusted market information
   Visitors value certainty and transparency. Clearer information on halal-certified or Muslim-friendly services, accommodation options and nearby facilities would strengthen trust and improve destination confidence.

3. Promote stronger cross-sector coordination
   Hotels, attractions, shopping centres, restaurants, transport operators and event organisers all have a role to play. A competitive Muslim-friendly destination requires coordination across the full visitor economy.

4. Differentiate between source markets
   The needs and expectations of Southeast Asian Muslim travellers may differ from those of higher-spending visitors from Gulf markets. Product development, service design and marketing should reflect these differences.

5. Build on Hong Kong’s existing strengths
   Hong Kong’s established advantages in premium hospitality, safety, urban convenience, events and cultural offerings can be better aligned with Muslim-friendly enhancements.

For the hotel sector, this discussion is particularly relevant. As Muslim-friendly travel continues to expand globally, the hospitality industry will have an important role in supporting Hong Kong’s competitiveness through service readiness, staff awareness, product adaptation and partnership across the tourism ecosystem.

We are encouraged to see these issues receiving attention at policy level and look forward to the research findings from CEPU in due course.

Members who wish to learn more may refer to the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit update on the seminar:  https://www.cepu.gov.hk/en/events/20260615.html