▲ Ita Thao Visitor Center now offers a Muslim prayer room on the second floor as the Sun Moon Lake Administration ramps up Muslim-friendly measures. Photo: Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration / Yang Ching-ru (Nantou).
Visitor numbers in the Greater Sun Moon Lake area fell below 4.5 million last year. With the global Muslim travel market encompassing 1.9 billion people, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration held Muslim-travel training and study visits, inviting the Taipei Grand Mosque Foundation, Islamic-affairs experts, and certified benchmark operators to share hands-on experience. This year’s goal is to guide 20 businesses to certification and develop two Muslim-friendly travel routes.
The Administration noted that after the pandemic, 5.19 million trips were recorded to the Greater Sun Moon Lake area in 2023. It expected 2024 to return to prior levels—approaching 6 million—but the Hualien earthquake, typhoons, and other factors drove a 14% decline to 4.47 million trips, of which 26% were foreign visitors. According to the 2024 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), Taiwan has ranked No. 3 among non-OIC destinations for three straight years. The Administration’s goal this year is to guide businesses to actively open up the Muslim-travel market.
▲ Briefings featured the Taipei Grand Mosque Foundation, Islamic-affairs experts, and certified operators sharing hands-on practices. Photo: Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration / Yang Ching-ru (Nantou).
▲ Local operators visited mosques to deepen insight into Muslim traveler needs. Photo: Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration / Yang Ching-ru (Nantou).
Recently in Puli Township, the Administration held a briefing, followed by training and study visits, drawing well-known lodging and dining operators in the Sun Moon Lake Tourism Circle. Cheng Tai-Hsiung, Chairman of the Taipei Grand Mosque Foundation, and Imam Ma Shiao-Chi, an Islamic-affairs expert, led in-depth sessions on Muslim religious culture and traveler needs—including Halal dining, prayer facilities, accommodation environments, and other friendly amenities.
Local operators also visited Muslim-friendly venues. Certified benchmark operators shared real-world experience in building Muslim-friendly environments and practical techniques for hosting Muslim travelers, strengthening industry understanding of needs and improving service quality.
The Administration pointed out that Sun Moon Lake once had seven Muslim-friendly certified businesses, whereas five remain today. Developing the Muslim travel market cannot be achieved overnight and requires sustained effort. The plan is to guide 20 local businesses to obtain Muslim-friendly certification and to develop two Muslim-friendly routes in the Sun Moon Lake area, with promotion through travel agencies to help Muslim travelers access information—capturing opportunities in the Muslim market.
👉 Original News Link: China Times