Hong Kong called to better welcome Muslim tourists

With more than 360,000 visitors from mainly Muslim countries recorded over the first five months of the year, Hong Kong is invited to cross a CAP in its hospitality. For Amjad Refai, Egyptian professor and director of the Arab program at the University of Hong Kong, it is no longer enough to multiply the Halal certified restaurants: you have to go further.

“True hospitality is also listening and transparency,” he said in The Standard. According to him, the lack of information on the ingredients and the little cooperation of staff in certain Chinese restaurants are problematic for Muslim customers. The invisible presence of pork or bacon in dishes is a constant source of concern. “We barely answer you, no one will check in the kitchen. We order blind, “he deplores.

If more than 190 establishments are now Halal certified in Hong Kong, the approach remains binding for many, especially traditional restaurants. But the idea of better informing customers – via cards or customizable options – consensus. For Refai, a real reception strategy also involves active collaboration with Arab diplomatic representations, in order to adapt training and improve cultural understanding. Faced with these challenges, the Hong Kong Tourism Board launched in June an online guide to help professionals in the sector better accommodate Muslim travelers, focusing on raising awareness of religious practices and food needs. A first step, but still far from the expected level of requirement