With the aim of welcoming more Muslim visitors to the city, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) hosted a seminar last Friday (Oct 10) to introduce a new funding scheme to help local restaurants to obtain Halal certification.
The "Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme" offers a 50 percent rebate on certification costs, up to HK$5,000, available from September 17, 2023, until December 31, 2026.
The seminar has drawn around 250 representatives from the food, hotel and tourism sectors, including both large hotel restaurants and local eateries.
Wendy Chan, executive director at Lamma Rainbow Seafood Resturant on Lamma Island, emphasized that the lack of Halal-certified fish restaurants was a key factor in her decision to apply for certification to attract more tourists.
Her team is currently designing menus that exclude ingredients such as pork and frog, and they are experimenting with new cooking methods that do not involve alcohol to ensure compliance.
Christopher Chia, General Manager of Kowloon Shangri-La’s General Manager, highlighted the hotel’s commitment to meeting the diverse culinary needs of its international guests, including Muslim travelers.
Chia stated that obtaining Halal certification has successfully attracted more Muslim patrons and boosted guest confidence.
Additionally, the local eatery "Lady 13 Kitchen" in Tsim Sha Tsui recently achieved Halal-friendly certification, where the founder reported that certification has expanded their customer base, with business increasing by 4 to 5 percent.
At the seminar, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui expressed hope the subsidy program will encourage more businesses to pursue Halal certification, further enhancing the city’s appeal to the Muslim market.
Peter Lam Kin-ngok, the chairman of HKTB, noted that Hong Kong has been ranked as the third most Muslim-friendly travel destination in the Global Muslim Travel Index, emphasizing ongoing efforts to enhance the city’s offerings for Muslim visitors.
The city’s chief imam, Mufti Muhammad Arshad, welcomed the initiative, stating it provides diverse dining choices for the over 300,000 local and visiting Muslims.
Currently, the number of Halal-certified restaurants in Hong Kong has grown from about 100 last year to over 190.
