Macao Government Tourism Office Encourages Sustainable Travel with Seminar on Muslim Tourist Needs and Halal Certification
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) held the “Enhancing Awareness of the Tourism Industry About Muslim Customers” seminar on 27 February to help tourism professionals familiarize themselves further with the expertise and know-how required to best serve Muslim tourists.
The seminar is part of MGTO’s overall diversification strategy to diversify Macao’s tourist market and market Halal certification so that the city becomes an open global destination. The project also aligns with Macao’s economic diversification strategy, affirming its role as a global tourism and leisure world hub.
Industry Engagement and Expert Insights
The activity gathered over 280 participants from MGTO-granted hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tour guides. Sharifa Leung, the General Manager of the GBA Halal Certification Centre Ltd., was the guest speaker and provided valuable information on Halal certification and Muslim-friendly tourism practices.
Also in attendance were Ricky Hoi, Acting Director of MGTO, members of the Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme and other key players in the tourism industry.
Shaping Macao’s Global Tourism Landscape
Acting Director Ricky Hoi reiterated in his speech the diversification of Macao’s tourism market through MGTO’s efforts. He emphasized the emphasis of the office on enhancing connectivity with Greater China, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia, in addition to seeking to revive Europe, the United States, and India as a source of inbound travel. Furthermore, MGTO is also studying the Middle East market for new opportunities, due to its emerging potential.
Hoi stressed that MGTO will continue to organize professional training sessions to drive service excellence and equip tourism professionals with the ability to serve multicultural customers. The goal is to enable all tourists, regardless of their origin, to experience the full spectrum of Macao’s renowned “tourism” services and global hospitality.
Practical Training on Muslim-Friendly Tourism
The seminar provided an in-depth analysis of Muslim-friendly tourism, such as **Halal food guidelines, dietary laws, and specific Muslim travellers’ preferences.** Participants were also informed on the Halal certification process and gained insights into a range of certified products so they are well equipped to provide for Muslim tourists.
MGTO’s commitment to fostering greater knowledge about Muslim tourism is nothing new. On the success of two Islamic Culture in Tourism Workshops held in 2023, MGTO co-hosted additional seminars in 2024 on Halal certification and the needs of Muslim tourists. These initiatives prove a testament to MGTO’s continued effort to push the limits of tourism services and make Macao more accessible to a wider global market.
Through these initiatives, MGTO is making a significant move to make Macao’s tourism industry a more diversified and globally competitive sector so that it remains one of the world’s most desirable destinations for travellers from around the globe.
