We are delighted to provide a summary of the “Tapping into the Muslim Market: Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme Seminar” held on 10 October 2025. The seminar, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), attracted over 250 participants from the F&B, hotel, and tourism industries. The focus of the event was to explore the immense potential of the Muslim travel market and introduce the new Halal Certification Funding Scheme.

The funding scheme, highlighted during the seminar, aims to encourage more F&B establishments to become halal-certified. Restaurants that successfully obtain halal certification between 17 September 2025 and 31 December 2026 are eligible for a 50% subsidy on the application fee, capped at HK$5,000. This initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to enhancing Hong Kong’s capacity to cater to Muslim visitors and strengthening its competitiveness in global Muslim tourism markets.

In her speech, Ms. Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, emphasized the Government’s proactive approach to promoting Muslim-friendly tourism. She encouraged local trade partners to embrace halal certification to enrich visitor experiences and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a top Muslim-friendly destination. Echoing her sentiments, Dr. Peter Lam, Chairman of HKTB, proudly announced that Hong Kong has risen to third place in the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for non-OIC Muslim-friendly destinations and was also named the “Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year.”

The seminar also featured inspiring success stories from halal-certified establishments. Representatives from restaurants including Kowloon Shangri-La’s Café Kool shared their journeys of obtaining halal certification. They discussed the positive impact on their businesses, including increased visitor confidence, expanded clientele, and greater revenue. Their experiences demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of adapting halal-friendly practices, such as ingredient adjustments, staff training, and proper operating procedures.

HKTB also highlighted its three-pronged approach to optimizing Muslim-friendly tourism. This includes increasing the number of halal-certified restaurants (from 100 in early 2024 to over 190 today), providing online training kits for the trade to better serve Muslim visitors, and promoting Hong Kong as a leading Muslim-friendly destination through collaborative efforts with trade partners.

We encourage members to explore this opportunity and apply for the funding scheme. For application details, please visit the Dedicated Webpage or contact HKTB via email at halal@hktb.com or by phone at 2807 6593. 

Together, we can further enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive destination for Muslim travellers.