Hong Kong ranks as the fourth most Muslim-friendly destination outside of the Muslim world, according to Crescent Rating’s Global Muslim Travel Index 2024 report. A year since the government pitched Muslim tourism as the future of the city, the results have shown.
The Singapore-based research organisation focusses on amplifying Halal travel labels itself the “world’s leading authority on Halal-friendly travel.” Since 2008, Crescent Rating’s research, guides, and insight has facilitated the needs of the Muslim traveller.
Having spent close to two decades in the telecom industry traversing China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and France with limited accessibility for halal dining options, founder and CEO Fazal Bahardeen came up with the idea to start a platform in 2007 to assist Muslim travellers on the best hotels to day at to dine and pray safely.
A year later, Fazal left his corporate career of 18 years to found Crescent Rating. He predicted a boom in global Muslim travel and, thus, a need to know where to find Halal food whether on business or pleasure.
“As a Muslim, at home in Malaysia or Singapore, I have a good idea of which Halal restaurants and hotels have Halal certification. But when Muslims travel, they are not going to walk into any restaurant and ask if they are Halal,” says Fazal.
“Identification is crucial when traveling abroad and eating Halal food. Muslim travellers are looking for credible guidance on Halal friendly travel. We help with that!”
When Crescent Rating begins a partnership with a government or tourism board, the organisation works with hotels, restaurants, malls, tour guides, and attractions to rate their friendliness to Sharia and Halal laws to rate their Muslim-friendliness to assist Muslim’s travelling for work or tourism.
Placing just behind Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan outside of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Hong Kong’s recent tourism push to attract more Muslim travellers has come with a partnership with Fazal’s Crescent Rating.
Under Crescent rating’s plan, 55 hotels across Hong Kong are rated on a grade scale from one to seven, based on availability of Halal dining, prayer facilities, services during Ramadan, and level of non-Halal activities in the hotel.
Just like the MICHELIN Guide, the more stars, the better service you provide. A one to three Crescent rating means a hotel is “helpful”, four to five stars ensures that they “accommodate” Muslim travellers, and six to seven offers “specialised” catering to Muslim-friendly requirements.
Today, Hong Kong’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, AsiaWorld Expo, and Ocean Park are also rated as suitable destinations for Muslim travellers to pray, stay, and dine, all thanks to Crescent Rating’s drive to democratise Hong Kong for the visiting Muslim. They have worked with local Muslim organisations to certify Halal restaurants for visitors.
Crescent Rating has gone global in the last decade. “In March, we produced the first ever Muslim visitor guide for Macau in English and Arabic, positioning the city as a destination for Muslim’s to explore,” says Fazal.
“Three years ago, we produced the first ever guide for any U.S. city of New York, working with New York City Tourism to produce a guide. Over the years, we have worked with destinations in Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Spain, Australia, and more destinations.”
Currently, Crescent Rating has dozens of guides for countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Their annual report has profiled more than 140 countries on their Muslim friendliness for travel.
“We help destinations raise awareness of the needs of Muslim travelers, conduct comprehensive research on what the gaps are for facilitating Muslim travel, and develop assets to market their destination.”
Since the government’s signal to aim big on Muslim travel from early 2024, what has Hong Kong done well to become Muslim-friendly? A great deal, Fazal comments.
“Hong Kong’s [government] and the Tourism Board have done a lot to increase the number of Muslim restaurants here, increase awareness Muslim needs, and educate the [hotel] industry on how to accommodate travellers.”
Connectivity with strong tourism markets Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the latter being the fastest growing middle classes in the world, is vital for Hong Kong to get a piece of the USD225 billion-dollar pie for predicted expenditure of Muslim travel by 2028.
The Middle Eastern market, which only attracted 16,498 travellers in 2024, is key for business travel into Hong Kong as Fazal predicts, where the city remains a key entrance into the Chinese market.
Fazal is all-in on Hong Kong’s push to advocate for the world’s Muslim travellers. Year by year, he sees the city transform into a vital hub in Asia for Halal-friendly tourism and business.
Check out Crescent Rating’s guides, research, and information on Muslim-friendly travel here
