As Hong Kong deepens its position as a world-class destination for global travelers, one segment is gaining increasing strategic attention: Muslim travelers. With the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the adoption of CrescentRating accreditation, hotels and attractions across the city are actively enhancing their readiness to welcome Muslim guests. This increasing effort is reflected in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2025, with Hong Kong named as one of the leading Muslim-friendly destinations worldwide.
A recent survey of accredited establishments demonstrates strong satisfaction with CrescentRating’s program and clear evidence of positive impact on guest experience and market reach.
A key driver behind this trend is the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s recommendation, which served as the leading source of awareness for 74% of surveyed establishments. This underscores HKTB’s influential role in steering the hospitality sector toward Muslim-friendly standards and expanding Hong Kong’s appeal to diverse traveler segments.
The top motivations for applying include:
Attracting more customers
Enhancing credibility
Gaining marketing support
These motivations highlight a strong industry intention to capture the growing Muslim travel market while strengthening brand reliability and visibility.
“We’ve seen an 85% increase of guests from the Middle East and Saudi Arabia (Sept 2024 - Sept 2025).”
- New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel
“This rating has attracted groups with Muslim visitors, with +500 guests in 6 months.”
- Kerry Hotel Hong Kong
Across the board, establishments reported that CrescentRating accreditation has brought positive benefits, particularly in strengthening market access and positioning.
The most frequently cited impacts include:
Expanded Muslim customer base
Enhanced marketing opportunities
Increased trust and credibility among guests
While financial and operational impacts were observed to a lesser extent, likely due to many establishments being newly accredited (75% within the last year), the early indicators show that Muslim-friendly adaptations resonate strongly with both guests and business outcomes.
“Guests are happy that we can offer Halal menu and praying accessories.”
- Harbour Grand Hong Kong
“We’ve had a 10–20% increase in Muslim diners during Ramadan.”
- Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Satisfaction with CrescentRating is exceptionally high:
Average satisfaction score: 9.5/10
Willingness to recommend: 9.7/10
Intention to renew: 9.5/10
These ratings demonstrate that accredited establishments see clear value in the program and are committed to maintaining and growing their Muslim-friendly capabilities.
Beyond accreditation, hotels expressed demand for additional support, especially in:
Training programs on Halal best practices
Digital marketing support
Data and insights on Halal tourism trends
Muslim influencer/media exposure
Significantly, the range of establishments seeking support is expanding, with airport lounges and cruise terminals also beginning to inquire about Muslim-friendly readiness, illustrating the broadening ecosystem of travel touchpoints.
These firsthand accounts indicate how operational improvements, such as Halal meal options, prayer amenities, and improved service readiness can translate directly into guest satisfaction and measurable business growth.
Hong Kong’s hospitality sector is making decisive strides toward becoming more welcoming and accessible to Muslim travelers. With HKTB’s leadership and CrescentRating’s globally recognized accreditation framework, hotels and attractions are not only elevating guest experiences but also securing stronger market positioning in a competitive travel landscape.
As demand for Muslim-friendly travel continues to grow worldwide, Hong Kong’s proactive approach, supported by the enthusiasm of its hotels, the confidence reflected in satisfaction scores, and the measurable increases in Muslim guest arrivals are positioning the city as a rising leader in inclusive tourism
