Update Date: 2025-03-20
Tourism Bureau Director Kao Min-lin said that to expand international tourism, the city has led delegations to New Southbound Southeast Asian Muslim-majority countries— including Malaysia and Singapore—to take part in local travel fairs, host promotional events, and visit outbound travel organizations and agencies. In Kaohsiung, the bureau has also actively hosted familiarization trips for Muslim groups from Malaysia and other countries. At the same time, the bureau is upgrading major attractions—including the Love River, Cijin, Lotus Pond, and the Eye of Gangshan (Skywalk)—by installing prayer rooms and adding ablution (wash) facilities in public restrooms. It is also coaching the tourism industry and cultivating Muslim-friendly lodging environments, continuing to promote certification. At present, the city has 24 certified lodging businesses, 14 restaurants, 4 certified friendly environments, and 2 friendly travel agencies with Muslim-friendly or Halal certification. This year the bureau is again launching a two-year “Kaohsiung Muslim-Friendly Lodging Certification Program,” using briefings, guidance, and subsidies to attract and help more lodging businesses obtain certification.
Director Kao added that the briefing once again invited Imam Ma Shiao-Chi of the International Muslim Tourism Industry Joint Development Association, who has many years of certification experience, as well as Tammy Chien, General Manager of Taiwan Learning Trip , LTD., who has 16 years of experience in hosting Muslim travelers, to explain the application process for Muslim-friendly certification and analyze the current state of Muslim tourism development in Taiwan. Under this year’s two-year program, subsidies will help businesses renovate lodging, restaurant, and kitchen spaces, upgrade tableware, design menus, and improve public restrooms, with each lodging able to receive up to 20,000 in subsidies (local currency). The plan aims this year to guide 22 additional lodging operators to pass certification, including 10 properties whose in-house restaurants will simultaneously obtain Muslim-Friendly Restaurant & Hospitality Certification. By combining guidance with subsidies, the city hopes to boost businesses’ willingness to obtain Muslim-friendly and Halal certifications and jointly build a Muslim-friendly Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s No. 1 tourism brand, ranking first nationwide in visitor numbers for two consecutive years and attracting over 69 million tourists last year. The city not only boasts rich tourism resources and a diverse lineup of large-scale events and concerts; it has also won widespread recognition from visitors and media at home and abroad— including CommonWealth Magazine’s Excellence in Governance Award, Global Views Monthly’s No. 1 National Tourism Satisfaction, strong crowds at the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival “Kaohsiung Winter Wonderland,” and top online buzz. International platforms also took note: Agoda named Kaohsiung among “Asia’s Most Fun and Best-Value Destinations 2024,” and Klook listed Kaohsiung among “2025 Global Emerging Destinations,” making it the only Taiwan city to appear on both lists.
With its natural coastline and harbor scenery—and iconic sights such as Cijin, the Pier-2 Art Center, Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond—Kaohsiung draws travelers from around the world to explore the city’s charm. To further enhance the visitor experience, the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau is advancing its Muslim-friendly guidance program to actively tap the Muslim travel market and help tourism operators join the Muslim-friendly ranks. From Halal dining to comfortable prayer facilities, the city aims to create a considerate and inclusive travel environment—so that Muslim visitors to Kaohsiung can feel respected, included, and at home. For more information, please visit the Kaohsiung Travel.
👉 Original News Link: Kaohsiung Travel