Hong Kong Climbs To Second Place As A Muslim-Friendly Destination
TLDR:
- Award: Hong Kong ranked #2 in the Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year (Non-OIC) at the Halal in Travel Awards 2026, up from #3 last year
- Malaysia angle: Visitor arrivals from Malaysia grew 9.7% year-on-year in Q1 2026, showing strong regional demand
- On the ground: Hong Kong now has nearly 290 Muslim-friendly establishments, including 222 halal-certified and Muslim-owned eateries and 61 Crescent Rated hotels
- Winners circle: Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (Transport Hub), Dorsett Tsuen Wan (Hotel), and Ocean Park (Attraction) all won their categories
Hong Kong Doubles Down On Muslim-Friendly Tourism
Hong Kong is no longer flying under the radar as a destination for Muslim travellers. At the Halal in Travel Awards 2026, held during the Halal in Travel Global Summit in Singapore, the city secured second place in the Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year (Non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) category, an improvement from its third-place finish in 2025. The recognition, jointly presented by CrescentRating and Mastercard as part of the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026, places Hong Kong firmly among the world’s most welcoming cities for Muslim visitors.
The ranking reflects deliberate investment rather than happenstance. Hong Kong now offers close to 290 Muslim-friendly establishments, a network that includes 222 halal-certified and Muslim-owned eateries spread across neighbourhoods such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Central, alongside 61 Crescent Rated hotels that meet recognised standards for halal-friendly service. Prayer facilities have also been quietly integrated into major attractions, transport hubs, and shopping districts, removing one of the most common friction points for Muslim tourists.
Malaysian Travellers Are Leading The Charge
The numbers tell the clearest story. Visitor arrivals from Malaysia to Hong Kong rose 9.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, a healthy jump that mirrors growing demand for short-haul Muslim-friendly travel options from Southeast Asia. With direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong taking under four hours, the city is well-positioned to capture more of this segment, particularly families and young professionals looking for weekend getaways that don’t require compromising on dietary needs.
Malaysia itself was also recognised at the same awards, taking home honours in several categories — a sign that the regional Muslim travel market is maturing rapidly. For Malaysian travellers, Hong Kong’s improved ranking translates into more reliable halal dining options, more hotels that understand prayer time accommodations, and a more confident travel experience overall.
The Winners Behind The Win
Three Hong Kong tourism stakeholders walked away with their own category wins at this year’s Halal in Travel Awards:
- 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
These aren’t just trophy wins — they signal operational readiness. A cruise terminal that caters properly to Muslim guests needs prayer rooms, halal catering options on board and at port, and crew training. A theme park that takes the category seriously needs to think about everything from halal-certified food outlets to family-friendly prayer spaces. The fact that Hong Kong took all three awards suggests a coordinated, top-down approach to Muslim-friendly tourism rather than piecemeal efforts.
Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, acknowledged the collective effort behind the recognition: “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.”
“Jelajah Hong Kong” Connects With Muslim Audiences
Beyond infrastructure, Hong Kong’s outreach to Muslim travellers is getting sharper. The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s “Jelajah Hong Kong” campaign, which means “to discover” in Malay, won Halal Travel Marketing Campaign of the Year at the same awards. The campaign was built around authentic storytelling and culturally nuanced messaging rather than generic tourism slogans.
One of its most distinctive moments was the first-ever Raya music video filmed in Hong Kong, produced in collaboration with Malaysian artists Ernie Zakri and Syamel Aqmal. The video put Hong Kong’s Muslim-friendly offerings in front of a Southeast Asian audience that already had a built-in appetite for Hari Raya content. Supporting assets include a dedicated Muslim Travel section on DiscoverHongKong.com and a digital Muslim Travel Guide that helps travellers find halal restaurants, prayer facilities, and recommended itineraries.
What This Means For Your Next Hong Kong Trip
For Malaysian travellers considering Hong Kong, the practical reality is simpler than it was even two years ago. You can now plan a multi-day itinerary that doesn’t require pre-booking every meal or scouting for prayer spaces in advance. From authentic halal Cantonese cuisine to international dining experiences, from world-renowned attractions equipped with prayer facilities to cruise journeys through the award-winning Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the city has built out the kind of infrastructure that lets Muslim travellers focus on enjoying the experience rather than managing logistics.
Whether it’s a family trip to Ocean Park, a shopping run through Causeway Bay, a sunset at Victoria Peak, or a cruise departure from Kai Tak, the foundation is now in place. Hong Kong has gone from being a destination that Muslim travellers could visit with some planning to one they can visit with confidence.
For more information and Muslim-friendly travel resources, visit the Discover Hong Kong Muslim Travel page or download the Hong Kong Muslim Travel Guide.
Our Take
Hong Kong’s climb from #3 to #2 in the Muslim-friendly Destination rankings is significant, but the more interesting story is how it got there. The city didn’t just add more halal restaurants or print more prayer room signs — it built a coordinated strategy spanning government, the tourism board, and the travel trade. The wins for Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Dorsett Tsuen Wan, and Ocean Park show that the infrastructure is real, not just marketing copy.
For Malaysian travellers specifically, the “Jelajah Hong Kong” campaign is a smart move. Filming a Raya music video with Ernie Zakri and Syamel Aqmal is exactly the kind of culturally specific outreach that cuts through the noise of generic tourism marketing. It signals to Malaysian Muslim audiences that Hong Kong isn’t just tolerant of their needs — it’s actively courting them.
The 9.7% year-on-year growth in Malaysian arrivals is the metric to watch. If Hong Kong can sustain that pace while continuing to expand its halal-certified network, a #1 ranking isn’t out of the question within the next few years. For now, Hong Kong is a strong second choice for Malaysian Muslim travellers who want a short-haul city break without the usual planning overhead.
