Sixty percent of the 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, nearly one-quarter of the global population, lives in Asia. Taiwan, a 5-hour or less flight from most of Southeast Asia, makes a convenient getaway travel / vacation destination for Muslims in this region. In addition to the Muslim-traveler incentives and services already established under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, businesses following Halal dietary rules and learning more about cultural differences can help further increase Muslim traveler interest in Taiwan.
The unique concerns of Muslim travelers mean that host-country hospitality must at a minimum include certified Halal restaurants, prayer rooms and other related services and facilities. By taking concrete actions that show respect for Muslim culture and customs, Taiwan can earn goodwill and endorsement. These actions include, but are certainly not limited to, offering Halal meal options, providing prayer rugs and Qibla direction indicators at overnight accommodations, and scheduling prayer times into local travel itineraries. These small adjustments not only improve service quality but also expand tourism revenue, visibility, and cultural soft power, helping Taiwan grow into one of Asia’s top choices for Muslim travel.
I first became aware of the immense potential of the Muslim market many years ago while promoting leisure agriculture in Southeast Asia. At the time, Taiwan’s understanding of Muslim travelers and their needs was limited, so I founded Taiwan Learning Trip to fully promote Halal certification domestically. Since then, we have focused on introducing businesses to Muslim culture and prohibitions; providing professional training on food requirements, prayer facilities, and itinerary planning; and ensuring our Muslim friends can easily find Halal-compliant dining and lodging in Taiwan. The goal of our efforts is to have every Muslim who chooses to travel to, or vacation in, Taiwan see our country not only as a friendly destination but as a place that respects and embraces differences as well.
Taiwan Learning Trip continues to work closely with tourism businesses and regional “tourism circles” to optimize Muslim reception services and capabilities. We were delighted to learn Taiwan became the third most popular non-OIC destination for Muslim travelers globally in 2024 - a clear sign of international recognition. That same year, Taiwan Learning Trip was honored to be named CrescentRating (Singapore)’s Muslim-Friendly Tour Operator of the Year, while I was honored to receive our national Tourism Administration’s Individual Enthusiastic Contribution to Tourism Award. I am deeply grateful for the recognition received from all sectors, and look forward to continuing to serve as a bridge between Taiwan and the Muslim travel market.
(This article was narrated by the interviewee and compiled by Reporter Liao Yi-an.)
General Manager, Taiwan Learning Trip , Ltd.
Tammy Chien (簡佩平)
TTN Travel News, Issues 1398–1399, published Apr. 14, 2025, p. 3
👉 Original News Link: TTN Travel News