HKTB Promotes Hong Kong Tourism to Muslim Participants of the Belt and Road Summit
Guests Enjoy a Feast of High-End Halal-Certified Cantonese Delicacies
The 10th Belt and Road Summit is staged in Hong Kong for two consecutive days (10 & 11 September), bringing together senior officials, representatives of international organisations, business leaders, and industry pioneers from countries and regions along the Belt and Road and beyond. Among the participants, many come from Muslim nations or countries with a large Muslim population. In light of this, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) seized the chance to promote Hong Kong’s Muslim-friendly tourism experiences to these guests and treated them a feast of high-end halalcertified Cantonese delicacies.
HKTB invited a group of Muslim participants of the Belt and Road Summit to a dinner at Chinesology, the city’s first high-end halal-certified Chinese restaurant, to experience Hong Kong’s authentic culinary culture on Thursday evening (11 September). Thanks to HKTB’s promotional efforts and the support of the industry, the number of halal-certified restaurants in Hong Kong has now increased to 195. During the dinner, HKTB representatives introduced to the Muslim guests the latest developments in Muslim-friendly tourism experiences in Hong Kong, as well as HKTB’s efforts to boost MICE tourism. Chef Saito Chau, Culinary Director of Chinesology, also shared the essence of traditional Cantonese cuisines to the Summit guests.
Malaysian Dato tastes Cantonese cuisines for the first time, commends the exquisite tastes
Agricultural Organisation Head Applauds Hong Kong for Enhancing Muslim-Friendly Tourism Experiences
Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, President of Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC), who has visited Hong Kong many times, gets a taste of halal-certified Cantonese cuisine for the first time. He commended the exquisite tastes of Cantonese food, adding that the feast shows that local chefs have gone a long way to prepare the food very nicely for the diners. The Malaysian Dato added that food is very important when they are attending a conference outside their home country, and Hong Kong having more halal-certified and Muslim-friendly hotels makes it convenient for Muslim businessmen. He is also interested in local halal restaurants and curry dishes recommended by his friends, while his trip on an open-top sight-seeing bus gave him an experience “very different” from his previous visits. He hopes to visit the local museums to learn more about Hong Kong history and looks forward to coming to Hong Kong on business again in the future.
Mr Aminuddin Bin Zulkipli, Chairman of The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), who has also visited Hong Kong before, said, “Being a traveller, leaving home is about where to find your food.” He stressed that Muslim travellers will be much happier if they know that a destination offers them halal food. After tasting quality halal food in Hong Kong, Mr Bin Zulkipli said he is ready to visit again for leisure. Learning that there are more restaurants and hotels getting halal-certified in town, he applauded Hong Kong for stepping up its Muslim-friendly tourism game in the positive way.
Summit guests extend their stay for sightseeing
Besides savouring local delicacies, HKTB also offered the guests a taste of Hong Kong’s diverse tourism appeals to elevate their business tourism experience. The guests visited the Happy Valley during its “Happy Wednesday” night to enjoy the city’s heart-pumping horseracing experience and took a ride in a traditional junk to immerse themselves in the scenic views of Victoria Harbour. Some of the guests extended their stay after the two-day Summit to explore Hong Kong, visiting the Peak on the Peak Tram and checked out the countless historical treasures at the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
HKTB and hotels jointly present exclusive deals and offers for Muslim Summit participants
HKTB partners with eight hotels with halal-friendly ratings by CrescentRating, a leading international Muslim tourism promotion company, to offer Belt and Road Summit participants exclusive discounts in accommodation and offers during and after the Summit. These include Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriot Hotel, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong, Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Mira Moon, New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel, and The Mira Hong Kong.