A subsidy scheme for restaurants to receive halal certification in Hong Kong is accepting applications until the end of January.

Restaurants that get certified by the end of next year can get half of the certification cost covered by the Tourism Board, capped at HK$5,000.

Each restaurant can get the financial support once.

The initiative was announced in last week’s Policy Address as part of efforts to further promote Muslim tourism in the city.

According to the Halal Association of Hong Kong, the cost of halal certification for restaurants usually ranges from about HK$2,500 to HK$4,000 per year.

The city currently has 195 halal restaurants – almost double the number in early 2024, according to the Tourism Board.

Homer Yu, the founder of Halal International – an association that provides consultancy services on halal certification – said he expects the number to double again by the end of the year.

“Certifying takes only about two, maximum three months so I think by the end [of the year], if they start applying today, I would say there will be hopefully another 200 to 300 [halal restaurants],” he explained.

Since the subsidy scheme was introduced, Yu said his organisation has received many enquiries from trade and hotel groups interested in applying for halal certification.

But he stressed that while increasing the number of halal restaurants is important, educating the industry on the needs of Muslim travellers is just as crucial.

“Their staff needs to understand the way of life of the Muslims. Or else, if you just have certification without understanding the market, understanding the culture, then the staff cannot serve the customers well,” he said.