Indonesian envoy says Hong Kong needs stronger branding to win over Muslim tourists

Consul General Yul Edison also suggests putting up more signs in various languages, publishing halal travel guides

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Hong Kong should offer a travel guide sharing the city’s halal-friendly places, an envoy to the city has said. Photo: Antony Dickson

Published: 8:30am, 23 Oct 2024

Indonesia’s top envoy in Hong Kong has said the city needs stronger branding and communication efforts to promote itself as a Muslim-friendly destination, suggesting authorities put up signs in different languages and publish halal travel guides.

In a reply to queries from the Post, Yul Edison, the country’s consul general to Hong Kong, said earlier this week that while the city’s existing tourism infrastructure was “quite mature”, improvements could be made to accommodate Muslim travellers.

In his latest annual policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the city needed to step up efforts to attract tourists from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Yul said stronger branding and communication efforts to promote Hong Kong as a Muslim-friendly destination could also be a valuable tool.

“These may include expanding language options in signages to include the languages of Muslim-majority countries as well as providing accurate and easily accessible halal travel guides and information,” he said.

Yul also suggested changes could be made to the city’s existing tourism infrastructure to accommodate Muslim travellers.