The number of halal-certified establishments in Taiwan recently surpassed 100, highlighting the progress of government efforts to transform the nation into a Muslim-friendly destination, according to the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
 
A total 104 centralized kitchens, guesthouses, hotels, leisure farms, restaurants and theme parks have been granted halal status by Taipei City-based Chinese Muslim Association, Tourism Bureau data show.
 
“We hope to see the number reach 200,” Tourism Bureau Director-General Chou Yung-hui said at a ceremony March 10 to award halal certification to 28 hotels and restaurants. Noting that he expects upcoming events organized by the bureau to attract greater numbers of Muslim visitors to Taiwan, Chou recommended cycling tours as one of the best ways to explore the nation.
 
The Tourism Bureau, working in cooperation with the CMA, has helped facilitate the expansion in halal-certified businesses by providing subsidies and technical assistance. Among the accredited establishments are six luxury hotels—recognized as five-star accommodations by the bureau—offering facilities, food and services in compliance with Islamic requirements, including a range of halal-certified dining options spanning aboriginal, Chinese, Indian, Thai and Turkish cuisines.
 
Over the past year, the bureau has launched a series of marketing campaigns to boost the number of Muslim tourists to the nation, estimated to have reached 188,000 in 2016. In February, it invited tourism operators and media outlets from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East to visit Taiwan so as to foster awareness of the island’s attractions, including major cultural events, scenic spots and shopping areas.
 
In addition, the Tourism Bureau plans to send a 37-member delegation to the Matta Fair, a major travel exhibition set to run March 17-19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and will invite Malaysian celebrity chef Dato’ Fazley Yaakob to appear at the Taiwan pavilion to promote the nation’s halal-certified restaurants. It will also release a new tourism booklet for Muslim visitors in English, Malaysian and Indonesian next month.


The Tourism Bureau has been working with the local tourism industry to attract more visitors from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, including majority Muslim countries such as Indonesia. These efforts form part of the government’s New Southbound Policy, a comprehensive peoplecentric initiative to deepen the nation’s agricultural, business, cultural, educational, tourism and trade ties with the 10 ASEAN nations, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (KH-E)
 
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