Kuala Lumpur, 23 June 2026 – Hong Kong has further strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading Muslim-friendly destinations, securing second place in the Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year (Non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) category at the Halal in Travel Awards 2026. The award was presented during the Halal in Travel Global Summit in Singapore, where CrescentRating—one of the world’s leading authorities on halal travel—together with Mastercard, unveiled the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026. The recognition marks a significant advancement from Hong Kong’s third-place ranking last year and reflects the city’s continued efforts to create a more inclusive and seamless travel experience for Muslim visitors.
Hong Kong retained its No. 1 ranking in the Muslim-friendly Accessible Travel Destination (Non-OIC) and continued to lead as Runner-up in the Muslim Women Friendly Travel Destination (Non-OIC).
Hong Kong’s rise was driven by its expanding network of Muslim-friendly offerings and facilities across major attractions and tourism infrastructure. As of today, Hong Kong offers close to 290 Muslim-friendly establishments, including 222 halal-certified and Muslim-owned eateries across the city and 61 Crescent Rated hotels.
The city’s commitment to Muslim-friendly tourism was further reflected through the achievements of several Hong Kong tourism stakeholders at this year’s awards, including:
- Muslim-friendly Transport Hub of the Year: Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
- Muslim-friendly Hotel of the Year: Dorsett Tsuen Wan Hong Kong
- Muslim-friendly Attraction of the Year: Ocean Park Hong Kong
Reflecting this growing recognition, visitor arrivals from Malaysia rose by 9.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, a clear sign of rising demand for Hong Kong’s Muslim-friendly offerings.
Dr Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman, said, “It is encouraging to see that Hong Kong continues to make progress in promoting Muslim-friendly tourism and has repeatedly received international recognition. These awards demonstrate the concerted efforts of the Government, HKTB and the travel trade. I sincerely congratulate the honoured trade partners, and thank the Government for its continued support, as well as the trade for its active involvement. Moving forward, HKTB will continue to advance its ‘accreditation, education and promotion’ strategy, maintaining close partnership with the travel trade, the F&B sector and other tourism-related industries to encourage the introduction of more Muslim-friendly facilities and catering options. This will help further promote Muslim tourism, establish Hong Kong as a Muslim-friendly tourism destination, and attract more visitors to Hong Kong.”
Driving Awareness Through “Jelajah Hong Kong”
Adding to this achievement, the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) “Jelajah Hong Kong” campaign won the Halal Travel Marketing Campaign of the Year, acknowledging its success in connecting with Muslim travellers through authentic storytelling, curated destination content, and practical travel resources.
Meaning “to discover”, the campaign reflects the spirit of Discover Hong Kong while resonating with the Muslim audiences in Southeast Asia through culturally nuanced messaging. Through this campaign, Hong Kong has showcased its growing range of Muslim-friendly experiences to travellers across Southeast Asia through audience-centric content. Among its highlights was the first-ever Raya music video filmed in Hong Kong in collaboration with Malaysian artists Ernie Zakri and Syamel Aqmal.
The campaign is supported by dedicated resources such as the Muslim Travel section on DiscoverHongKong.com and the digital Muslim Travel Guide, which help travellers easily discover halal-certified restaurants, prayer facilities, Muslim-friendly attractions, accommodation options and recommended itineraries.
Discover Hong Kong with Greater Confidence and Convenience
From enjoying authentic halal Cantonese cuisine and international dining experiences to visiting world-renowned attractions equipped with prayer facilities and Muslim-friendly amenities, Muslim travellers today have more options than ever to experience Hong Kong comfortably.
Whether exploring Victoria Peak, shopping in bustling districts, enjoying family adventures at Ocean Park Hong Kong, discovering cultural neighbourhoods, or embarking on cruise journeys through the award-winning Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, visitors can expect a more welcoming travel experience throughout the city.
As Hong Kong continues to expand its Muslim-friendly offerings and collaborate with industry partners, the city remains committed to ensuring that travellers from Malaysia and around the world can experience the very best of Hong Kong with ease, comfort and peace of mind.
For more information and Muslim-friendly travel resources, visit the Discover Hong Kong Muslim Travel page and download the Hong Kong Muslim Travel Guide.
