Saturday, June 14, 2025
Hong Kong rises to 3rd place amongst journey locations No OIC NO OIC World in 2025 MasterCard-Crescentrating Index
Hong Kong has earned worldwide recognition as some of the cozy journey locations for Muslim vacationers exterior the group of Islamic Cooperation international locations (OIC), guaranteeing third place within the World Muslim Journey Index (GMTI) of Crescenting Mastercard 2025. This marks a outstanding enchancment of its earlier classification of the fourth place and highlights the rising efforts of town to fulfill the wants of town Muslim guests.
The announcement occurred when the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reaffirmed its dedication to inclusive tourism and the advance of the overall expertise of holiday makers to the worldwide Muslim group. As a part of its broader technique to diversify town’s vacationer portfolio, the HKTB had beforehand commissioned the rising rising, an advisory and sede -based recommendation agency primarily based in Singapore that focuses on the Muslim journey market, to judge and evaluate Hong Kong’s efficiency in key areas of Muslim journey companies.
Along with his classification of the primary three, Hong Kong additionally acquired the distinguished title of “Vacation spot of probably the most promising yr of the yr”underlining its rising place as a middle for pleasant tourism with Muslims in East Asia.
The Crescentrating Mastercard GMTI evaluates locations utilizing a complete framework that features elements corresponding to entry to halal meals, prayer services, transport and transport comfort, ease of communication, security and lodging requirements aligned with Islamic values. The progress of Hong Kong within the classifications displays its progress in a number of of those areas.
Whereas Hong Kong continues to construct his status within the World Muslim Journey Market, business consultants have indicated that there’s nonetheless an unspecified potential to additional enhance its competitiveness. Suggestions embody increasing the supply of halal certification eating places, rising the quantity of prayer rooms in public and business areas, and elevating consciousness about pleasant companies with Muslims amongst hospitality suppliers.
The collaboration of the Tourism Board with Crescentrating included an in depth analysis of motels, vacationer sights and procuring facilities to find out their preparation to accommodate Muslim vacationers. The findings reported a highway map to implement enhancements all through the vacationer ecosystem, guaranteeing that the services should not solely accessible but in addition culturally respectful and aligned with the expectations of Muslim friends.
This recognition comes at a time when Muslim journeys proceed to develop as a key world tourism phase. The MasterCard-Crescentrating Index tasks that the variety of Muslim vacationers worldwide will exceed 230 million by 2028, which makes it an important demographic group for future tourism growth. The proactive method of Hong Kong for inclusion locations it in a strong place to reap the benefits of this enlargement market.
With a wealthy cultural heritage, a world -class infrastructure and a rising sensitivity to spiritual and cultural variety, Hong Kong goals to be greater than a scale. It’s positioning itself as a comfortable and handy vacation spot for Muslim households, solo vacationers and group excursions equally.
The continual growth of tourism companies with Muslims in Hong Kong displays a broader change in journey traits, the place inclusion and cultural lodging have gotten important elements of the world -traveling attractiveness. The popularity of Hong Kong within the World Muslim Journey Index of 2025 not solely marks a milestone, but in addition factors out town’s ambition to turn out to be a high -level vacation spot for varied vacationers from all areas of life.
Hong Kong will increase the Muslim tourism technique with accredited motels and rising world recognition
Hong Kong has considerably accelerated his efforts to turn out to be a extra inclusive journey vacation spot by specializing in attracting Muslim guests, based on the most recent findings of the 2025 MasterCard-MasterCard-World Muslim Muslim Journey Index. The report emphasised the progress of town within the diversification of its vacationer presents, indicating a notable enhance in institutions that now particularly meet the wants of Muslim vacationers.
Since mid -2014, greater than 60 motels, eating places and companies associated to Tourism in Hong Kong have achieved an official pleasant accreditation for Crescentrating Muslims, a worldwide acknowledged authority in Halal journeys primarily based in Singapore headquarters. This speedy development in licensed services underlines town’s dedication to construct a vacationer atmosphere that respects non secular practices and improves consolation for Muslim friends.
Of the 61 Hong Kong motels evaluated by rising thus far, 9 have obtained the very best attainable rating of 5, which displays their sturdy compliance with the pleasant requirements with Muslims. The notable properties that obtain predominant classifications embody Island Shangri-La, Kerry Lodge and Dorsett Tsuen Wan. These motels provide important companies corresponding to HALAL FOOD OPTIONS, QIBLA Administration Indicators, Accessible Prayer Prayer and Prayer Services, all crucial elements for Muslim vacationers when selecting lodging.
Crescentrating makes use of a seven -level detailed system to judge the extent of pleasant companies with Muslims offered by hospitality suppliers. Dozens of six and 7 are reserved for specialised variations that transcend normal presents by attending virtually solely to vacationers with halal consciousness. These elite rankings are usually awarded to institutions that continually present Halal licensed meals, non-public services and a variety of comforts that meet the Sharia.
Within the final world classification of non -OIC international locations (Islamic Cooperation Group), Singapore retained the upper place as probably the most pleasant vacation spot with Muslims, adopted by the UK. Hong Kong went as much as third place, forward of Taiwan in fourth and Thailand in fifth. The report displays the aggressive panorama between non -Islamic economies that try to fulfill the rising demand for culturally inclusive journey companies.
Among the many Islamic nations, Malaysia as soon as once more assured the primary place, reaffirming its management in halal tourism. Different predominant locations within the OIC block included Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, counted identified for his or her sturdy halal infrastructure and deeply rooted Islamic cultural experiences.
The report means that the ascending impulse of Hong Kong on this phase is the results of strategic planning and energetic collaboration between authorities vacationer organizations and consultants in worldwide Muslim tourism. The dedication of the Hong Kong Tourism Board with Crescentrating has laid the idea for lengthy -term enhancements and worldwide comparative analysis within the high quality of the service for Muslim vacationers.
As Muslim journeys proceed to emerge as one of many quickest rising segments on this planet tourism market, Hong Kong’s dedication to inclusion and cultural lodging positions it as an ascending vacation spot of selection. By way of higher accreditation, service enhancements and devoted promotional efforts, town is consistently creating its id as a comfortable and respectful place for Muslim guests world wide.
For instance, it was noticed that, though some motels and sights had taken measures to accommodate Muslim friends by putting in ablution services, many missed the significance of gender separation. In a number of circumstances, solely a single shared area was offered, not complying with the non secular necessities of various areas for women and men throughout laundering previous to propagencies.
As well as, it was found that sure areas of prayer inside tourism locations have massive reflective home windows, which will be dangerous throughout prayer. Islamic teachings emphasize minimizing distractions in locations of worship, and reflexive surfaces are usually discouraged in such environments.
There have been additionally gaps to know halal meals necessities amongst some meals institutions. Just a few mistakenly believed that providing a prayer on meals made it Halal, whereas others recognized the languages, complicated Urudu writing with Arabic, after they label menus or signaling, which results in higher confusion for Muslim guests who search real hales.
