As a food paradise, Hong Kong is actively developing the Muslim tourism market and utilizing the Belt and Road Initiative opportunities by providing more halal restaurants to attract Muslim tourists.
Imam Uthman Yang Xing Ben, the Imam of Masjid Ammar and the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, said that over 170 restaurants have been listed as halal restaurants, an increase of more than 70 percent since last year.
There are three levels of halal certification, including "Halal Certified" - only halal food is prepared and served in the restaurant; "Halal Kitchen Restaurant" - only halal food is prepared in the kitchen but alcohol/non-halal food is also served in the dining area; and the "Halal Friendly Restaurant" - halal and non-halal food are prepared in the kitchen but strict measures are implemented to avoid contamination on any level.
Yang takes dim sum as an example, noting that the halal dim sum offered by the Islamic Centre Canteen is popular among locals and tourists.
He further noted that the demand for halal food is steadily increasing, and Hong Kong brands can consider exporting halal-certified products.
In terms of strengthening support to attract travelers, Yang mentioned that Hong Kong has cultural advantages as it features a blend of Eastern and Western cultures and has historic mosques.
He supported the government measures to enhance Muslim travel facilities, integrating halal restaurant listings, providing prayer facilities, and so on.
According to the government data, over 60 hotels and various attractions have received positive ratings for promoting Muslim tourism, while authorities will actively co-host Middle Eastern events to enhance the economic benefits of the convention and exhibition industry.
To further promote trade and investment cooperation with the Middle East region, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also led a business delegation to visit Qatar and Kuwait starting on Saturday.
In addition, a significant growth has been recorded in exports to Muslim countries, which shows an enormous market potential as stated by the government.
