Update Date: March 06, 2025
To continue advancing Muslim-friendly travel in Taiwan, the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Administration, MOTC (hereafter the Northeast Coast Administration) has for four consecutive years been fostering Muslim-friendly environments across the Greater Northeast Coast Tourism Circle. To date, 53 businesses hold Muslim-friendly certification, with 66 certifications issued altogether. This has steadily rounded out travel offerings spanning food, lodging, activities, shopping, and transport. On March 6th, 2025, the Northeast Coast Administration hosted a B2B exchange for the Greater Northeast Coast Tourism Circle at Taipei Garden Hotel, with Muslim-friendly certified business invited to meet with inbound tour company representatives. This lively event was designed to spark an expansion in Muslim travel itinerary packages and partnerships to attract more Muslim visitors to Taiwan.
Northeast Coast Administration Director Yu Liyu noted Islam is the world’s second-largest religion and that, with growing populations and rising middle-class spending power across the Islamic world, Muslim travel has become a key market for many countries. In the 2024 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) released jointly by Mastercard and CrescentRating, Taiwan ranked No. 3 among non-OIC destinations for Muslim travelers, underscoring Taiwan’s competitive edge. The Northeast Coast Administration has long strengthened international marketing and, in recent years, steadily promoted Muslim travel by building Muslim-friendly environments and guiding Tourism Circle businesses through the Muslim-friendly certification process. The B2B exchange at Taipei Garden Hotel was a platform for infusing additional momentum into the development of Muslim-focused products, enabling deeper experiences in the Northeast Coast, and drawing more domestic and international Muslim travelers to visit with peace of mind.
The Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area offers diverse attractions and is close to metropolitan Taipei. Many businesses in the Greater Northeast Coast Tourism Circle have already earned Muslim-friendly certification. Muslim-friendly attractions include the National Center for Traditional Arts Yilan Park and Fulong Visitor Center. Muslim-friendly hotels include Yamagata Kaku Hotel & Spa, Hotel Valletta, Just Sleep-Yilan Jiaoxi, Wellspring by Silks, Lakeshore Hotel Yilan, Lakeshore Hotel Suao, The Moment Hotel Yilan, and Fullon Hotel Fulong. Muslim-friendly restaurants include No. 9 Café, HappyLand BNB, Olivia Bistro, as well as the in-house restaurants at Lakeshore Hotel Yilan, Lakeshore Hotel Suao, and The Moment Hotel Yilan. Muslim-friendly experiences include tea ice-cream making at Xing Yuan Tea Farm, face-mask workshops at the Beneficial Microbes Museum, bottle-lamp painting at Pa Fan Keng, and baking classes at Yi Siang Countryside—Taiwan’s only Muslim-friendly certified bakery.
The exchange event also featured a showcase area, where 14 certified hotels, restaurants, and attractions from across the Tourism Circle presented their signature services and travel highlights and engaged in in-depth interactions with inbound tour operators. While service providers sharpened their appreciation of Muslim traveler needs, tour operators forged partnerships to strengthen their overall itinerary-planning capabilities. In addition, the thematic briefing on “Building Muslim-Friendly Travel Environments” outlined key market potentials and documented progress across the Tourism Circle, helping operators grasp current trends and build more opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
As the global Muslim travel market continues to expand, B2B exchanges such as this not only provide a platform for industry matchmaking but also facilitate the creation of a Muslim-friendly environment across the Greater Northeast Coast that will further attract Muslim travelers to Taiwan and support local development and economic growth. Looking ahead, the Northeast Coast Administration will continue upgrading Muslim-friendly facilities and services and, through international marketing, raise the Tourism Circle’s visibility in the Muslim travel market—positioning the Northeast Coast as a welcoming international destination for Muslim visitors.
👉 Original News Link: Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area