Push for SAR to cater to 'US$300b Islamic tourism'

Stacy Shi

The government should increase halal dining options for Muslim travelers by allocating subsidies for the halal certification of restaurants, and introduce tailor-made Islamic travel itineraries to position Hong Kong as a Muslim-friendly city, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said.

DAB lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun said the growing Muslim population has led to an increase in Muslim tourists, with spending by this group projected to reach US$300 billion (HK$2.3 trillion) by 2026.

Islam regulates that pork and its by-products, such as lard, and alcohol are forbidden, while chickens, cows and sheep must also be slaughtered and prepared accordingly.

The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong is responsible for issuing halal certification in the city. The process takes approximately six weeks and requires fees ranging from HK$2,500 to HK$6,000 depending on the number of staff members. Currently, 144 eateries have been certified and about 60 are being processed.

"This is not enough to cope with the demand of attracting more tourists to Hong Kong," Cheng said.

He hoped the government would establish a subsidy scheme to support the certification, with an aim to double the number of certified halal restaurants.

Mohamed Fathy Amin Hegazy, who is in charge of a number of halal restaurants, said that the lack of high-end halal ingredients in Hong Kong - such as halal wagyu beef - is one of the challenges facing chefs and halal restaurant operators.

Setting up more prayer rooms in Hong Kong is also among the suggestions.

Qamar Minhas, honorary treasurer of the accrediting body, recalled that he waited 45 minutes to use the small prayer room at Hong Kong International Airport, which is shared by all religions and does not have any mats.

"Whereas if we go to Thailand, in every terminal, there is a proper prayer room with carpets," he said. "Not only Thailand, but Japan, Singapore and all these nearby countries have these facilities."

"Some tourists will visit Disneyland and other theme parks where facilities are available but do not fit the [Islamic] standard, and that's what we lack and we need to improve on that."

Cheng also suggested the design of customized travel e-guides and mobile phone applications to facilitate travelers in search of halal restaurants, mosques or prayer rooms, as well as suitable entertainment routes.

According to Crescent Rating, a Singapore-based research organization that researches halal travel, Hong Kong has risen from fifth place last year to fourth place this year in the Non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation travel destination ranking.

"If it's a Muslim traveler, they'll see if the ranking is good, if there is a promotion that Hong Kong is friendlier to the Muslim traveler," said Dewan Saiful Alam, a member of the DAB's ethnic minorities committee.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com