It would be naive to say that Malaysians prefer Thailand over Hong Kong primarily because of the availability of halal food.Thailand is Abundant attractions It offers white sand beaches, island hopping, a wide variety of family-friendly activities, and overall affordable prices for food, transportation, and accommodation.
These factors contribute to its attraction to tourists beyond halal food. Therefore, rather than simply focusing on expansion, Number of Halal RestaurantsHong Kong should also prioritize building an ecosystem of amenities that benefit it, including small but important initiatives like encouraging Hong Kong hotels to offer halal toothpaste, setting up small prayer rooms in key tourist destinations, and organizing locally run, women-friendly tours and activities.
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Where to eat in Chungking Mansions, a building that symbolizes Hong Kong's diversity
Where to eat at Chungking Mansions, a building that symbolizes Hong Kong's diversity
In addition, large shopping centres can be encouraged to hold special Ramadan shopping festivals to promote halal tourism. Such diverse amenities will enrich the breadth and depth of Hong Kong's tourist destinations.
Hong Kong has been able to garner glowing testimonials from tourists and business travelers alike by offering a comprehensive ecosystem of conveniences that make their stay a pleasant one. These positive reviews are a testament to the Global advertising campaign They are targeting the same audience.
Furthermore, the Hong Kong government needs to clearly define its target market, taking into account the diverse consumption preferences of Muslims around the world. To support this effort, the Hong Kong Tourism Board should work with local Islamic organizations. However, it is worth noting that some of the major Islamic organizations in Hong Kong are primarily represented by people from the subcontinent, reflecting the demographics of Hong Kong's Muslim population.
If the government's purpose is to attract tourists From the wealthy Gulf countries, it would be wise to partner with a local Muslim organization whose directors are fluent in Arabic and have a deep understanding of the culture. Just like we prioritize Hiring Chinese-speaking talent To increase tourism from mainland China, it will be essential to find bilingual partners in English and Arabic for effective outreach.
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Hong Kong's Treasurer seeks new investments in Middle East as part of economic revitalization
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These organisations should ideally be private companies with white-collar professionals with ties to Hong Kong's food and beverage industry. The mandate of the local organisations should primarily focus on: Hong Kong propaganda Because serving foreign tourists and business travelers rather than serving the local Muslim community are two different goals that should not be confused.
Moreover, these organisations must be held to the highest standards and have clear deliverables. Beyond their role as religious organisations, the most important aspect is providing the clarity and innovation to bring groundbreaking ideas that will broaden and deepen Hong Kong's halal ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of creating real economic value.
The era of half-hearted measures is over. The Hong Kong government first proposed the idea. Targeted at Muslim tourists Launched in 2018, efforts since then have been sporadic and unfocused. As a result, these efforts largely failed.
Halal restaurant on Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei. The lack of places for observant Muslims to dine is cited as one of the reasons Hong Kong has struggled to tap into the halal tourism market. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
To overcome these past shortcomings, transparency and accountability are essential for the success of halal tourism in Hong Kong. Therefore, all individuals and organizations, regardless of size, should have the opportunity to suggest ways to expand Hong Kong's halal market through public tenders and technical proposals for expansion. Halal certification.
Hong Kong should welcome the best ideas as the aim is to diversify tourism and contribute to the success of the city. This approach will allow it to use this opportunity as a sounding board to improve and adapt Hong Kong's current halal certification system for the benefit of the F&B industry, tourism sector and the local economy.
Siddique Bazarwala is a Hong Kong resident, author and business strategist. He is the founder and director of the Hong Kong Halal Association.
