The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners is delighted to announce that Hong Kong has emerged as a standout non-OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) destination, ranking third globally in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025, up from fourth in 2024. This marks the first time Hong Kong has entered the top three in this category, demonstrating its growing recognition as a leading Muslim-friendly destination.

Key recognitions in GMTI 2025 include:

• First place globally in the “Muslim-friendly Accessible Travel Destination (non-OIC)” category.

• Second place globally in the “Muslim Women Friendly Travel Destination (non-OIC)” category.

• Named “Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year” in the Global Muslim Travel Index Awards 2025.

As the Chief Executive remarked in a recent media session, this achievement reflects the strong support from various sectors and travelers for the city’s Muslim-friendly policies. The Chief Executive also expressed gratitude to the many hotels, convention venues, and restaurants that have actively supported the initiative, which was first introduced in the 2024 Policy Address, to develop Hong Kong as a Muslim-friendly city. Their efforts have been instrumental in achieving international recognition, with many establishments receiving prestigious awards.

Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung recently shared insights from a delegation visit, where he highlighted the importance of promoting Hong Kong’s diverse and inclusive culture.

In his remarks, he noted:

“Noting that several members of the delegation are Muslim, I specially arranged for the dinner to be held at a halal-certified restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, where everyone can savour Hong Kong's halal cuisine. I was delighted to hear the members were very satisfied with the food. In fact, Hong Kong has performed exceptionally well in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI). Recently, for the first time, Hong Kong ranked among the top three non-OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) member destinations and was honoured as the ‘Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year,’ fully showcasing Hong Kong's diverse and inclusive culture.”

Muslim-friendly Infrastructure in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s success in Muslim-friendly tourism is underpinned by significant investments in infrastructure:

• 61 hotels, attractions, and convention venues have received CrescentRating accreditation as Muslim-friendly.

• The number of Halal-certified restaurants has increased from about 100 in early 2024 to 190 today. Many more establishments are currently applying for certification, reflecting growing demand and support for Muslim-friendly services.

• In April 2025, the number of visitors to Hong Kong from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries increased by 65% year-on-year, further highlighting the city’s appeal to Muslim travelers.

Congratulations to Award-Winning Establishments

The Federation congratulates the following establishments for their outstanding achievements in supporting Muslim-friendly tourism, particularly the hotel winners for their leadership in setting benchmarks for the industry:

The Federation extends its heartfelt congratulations to The Mira Hong Kong and Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong for being recognized as Muslim-friendly Hotels of the Year. These awards highlight their exceptional efforts in creating welcoming environments for Muslim travelers and their commitment to enhancing the city’s reputation as a Muslim-friendly destination.

Through collective efforts, Hong Kong is well-positioned to achieve greater recognition as a premier Muslim-friendly destination, while also fostering broader tourism development and enhancing the city’s global reputation.