Industry News

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau recently said it expects to complete Muslim certification for 50 restaurants this year, aiming to further penetrate the Muslim tourism market.

The "Muslim-Friendly Restaurant" certification will be handled by the China Muslim Association. Ma Chaoyan, the association's secretary-general, stated that the certification's primary purpose is to inform Muslims around the world that there are Muslims in Taiwan. To qualify, restaurants must use ingredients prepared in accordance with halal regulations, prohibit alcohol-containing seasonings and towels, and use dedicated tableware and separate dining areas.

In addition, Taiwan's tourism department will also provide professional training on halal customs to tourism practitioners.

There are currently 11 Muslim restaurants in Taiwan that only serve halal food, while seven are certified as "Muslim-friendly restaurants" that serve both halal and non-halal food.

Nearly all restaurants around Hsinchu's Leofoo Theme Park are certified. Chen Yiying, Marketing Director of Yilan Shangri-La Resort & Spa, said the resort welcomed approximately 1,000 Muslim tourists last year. "In addition to providing halal food, we also had to set up a dedicated dining area for them," Chen said. The resort also has dedicated guest rooms for Muslims. Bathrooms in these rooms are equipped with Muslim-friendly shower facilities, and bedrooms are equipped with carpets for prayer.

Chen Yiying said the cost of hosting Muslim tourists is slightly higher than that of non-Muslim tourists, but the certification will help attract more tourists from Muslim countries.

Lin Kunyuan, director of the Tourism Bureau's International Tourism Department, said Muslim tourists visiting Taiwan mainly come from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and northwest China.

"The Tourism Bureau hopes to increase the number of visitors to Taiwan from each country and region by 10% this year," Lin said. The frequency of Taiwan tourism promotional videos in Malaysia is steadily increasing. "The Tourism Bureau will also collaborate with local travel agencies to organize local tours to Taiwan," Lin added. "Taiwan attracted approximately 6 million tourists last year," Lin said. "With a population of approximately 1.7 billion, Muslim countries hold enormous potential."

Halal food and product production in mainland China saw rapid growth last year, with trade with Arab countries exceeding $66 billion. China's tourism industry could also draw inspiration from Taiwan's model: not only should it expand globally, but it should also attract Muslim tourists. The development experience of halal food and product production should be applied to the catering industry, using Muslim cuisine to communicate to the Muslim world that Chinese tourism welcomes Muslims.