Foodie Explorerz

I am thrilled to announce that I will be speaking at The ESG Community Learning - Wellness Living Forum #VegetarianFoodAsia (VFA 2025), representing Easy Eat and Foodie Explorerz. During the panel discussion, I will delve into the significance of Dietary Inclusivity, share strategies to address the challenges faced by Hong Kong's ethnically diverse community and highlight the impactful contributions of Easy Eat and Foodie Explorerz to this important social issue. Event Details: 📅 Date: February 22, 2025 (Saturday) ⏰ Time: 11:30 - 14:00 📍 Venue: Wan Chai Convention & Exhibition Centre 3FG, Main Stage 💻Register NOW！👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/gDz5b_89 #ESG #DietaryInclusivity #Events

It was a pleasure speaking on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) about Halal-friendly tourism in Hong Kong, where we delved into the city's burgeoning Halal tourism scene and discussed strategies to attract more Muslim travellers. The Muslim travel market is booming and is expected to reach US$300 billion by 2026. By broadening our focus not only to the Middle East but also to Southeast Asia's substantial Muslim populations, Hong Kong can strengthen its economy and reputation as an international hub, drawing in more tourists. This shift towards inclusivity could lead to a more diverse and appealing tourism sector with a global appeal. Here are a few strategies we discussed on how to make Hong Kong more appealing to Muslim travellers: 🌟 Catering to Hong Kong's Existing Muslim Community: Showcasing diversity and inclusion by tailoring services to meet the needs of the local Muslim population, can help Hong Kong identify itself as a global metropolis. 🌍 Hosting Global Events: Organising high-profile events to draw a global audience, showcase the city's vibrancy, and attract more tourists, including Muslim travellers can significantly boost tourism and elevate Hong Kong's international reputation. 🎁 Offering Promotions During Key Occasions: Implementing special promotions and packages during significant cultural events like Eid and Ramadan can attract Muslim tourists and enrich their experience in Hong Kong. 🛂 Facilitating Visa Access: Easing visa procedures for travellers from Southeast Asia, particularly regions with substantial Muslim populations, can enhance accessibility to Hong Kong and stimulate tourism from these areas. 🎓 Targeting International Students: Enhancing cultural exchange by tailoring programs and services for students from regions like Southeast and Central Asia, can enrich their educational experience and foster a vibrant multicultural environment in Hong Kong. Listen to the discussion here: https://shorturl.at/Jw4pG A special thanks to Raphael BLET for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Foodie Explorerz about halal tourism in Hong Kong and to Janice Wong and Danny Gittings for leading our discussion. Also, a shoutout to the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) for enabling Foodie Explorerz to expand its reach through GuideFong and for bringing attention to our discussion on RTHK! #HalalTourism #HalalTravel #HongKongTourism

I am thrilled to announce my feature on CGTN, which delves into the burgeoning interest in Hong Kong to cater to the halal food market and attract more Muslim visitors by expanding halal dining options. In this video, I discuss the challenges of finding halal restaurants, how Foodie Explorerz aims to address these issues and propose strategies to enhance the halal market, including offering consultations and support for businesses, potentially establishing Hong Kong as a premier destination for tourists worldwide. Although this feature was released some time ago, I delayed sharing it due to it being in French. Fortunately, I discovered that the video can automatically generate English captions from YouTube, and thought- better late than never! Here are some key takeaways from the video: 🌏 Halal Awareness: Recognising the surge in demand for halal cuisine, Hong Kong is actively moving towards certifying more restaurants to cater to Muslim visitors. 📋 Certification Efforts: Hong Kong is considering simplifying its certification process to better accommodate restaurants and educate them on Muslim dietary requirements. 🥘 Culinary Expansion: Amid efforts to strengthen connections with the Middle East through China's Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong is observing a rise in certified halal restaurants expanding their menus to include various popular dishes.  💵 Economic Insights: There is an economic impact of providing halal food, emphasising the substantial Muslim population in Hong Kong and the potential for heightened tourism from the Gulf region. Thank you, Patrick Fok, for this interview opportunity, where I got to share my insights about the expanding Halal market in Hong Kong. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gWk88A4j #Halal #HalalMarket #HongKong

I am thrilled to announce that I was recently featured on CNA, Singapore's leading and most trusted media channel. In the video and accompanying article, I discussed strategies for Hong Kong to support businesses in introducing halal offerings to attract more tourists. I also introduced Foodie Explorerz and its mission of promoting dietary inclusivity and halal food in Hong Kong. Here are some of the key takeaways: 📌 The scarcity of halal-certified food establishments in Hong Kong: There are nearly 18,000 licensed food establishments in the city, but only 116 are halal-certified, highlighting a gap in catering to specific dietary needs. 📌 The focus on capturing the Muslim market: Hong Kong authorities have a keen interest in expanding halal tourism to attract the lucrative Muslim dollar, recognising the potential in catering to this specific demographic. 📌 The rise of Southeast Asia as a significant tourism market: Southeast Asia quickly became Hong Kong's second-largest inbound tourism market after the city reopened its borders, showcasing the region's importance in driving tourism numbers. 📌 The potential for growth in halal tourism: Despite the current landscape, there is significant room for growth in tapping into markets like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Middle Eastern countries, which have not been fully leveraged for tourism purposes. 📌 Efforts to target the Middle Eastern market: The Hong Kong government's initiatives to promote its offerings to the Gulf Cooperation Council members demonstrate a strategic approach to attract visitors from affluent Middle Eastern countries. Thank you Melody Chan, for giving me the opportunity to share my story along with insights regarding the halal scene in Hong Kong. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gFTwTPNE Read more: https://shorturl.at/VDJTs #HongKongTourism #HalalHongKong #HalalMarket

Congratulations to our Founder, Maryam Khan, on her recent video feature in the South China Morning Post SCMP. In the video, Maryam discusses the improving halal restaurant scene in the city, but notes that "there is still a lot more to do." She points to KFC as a success story, explaining how they introduced a halal menu at one of their branches, and it was so popular that "business boomed like crazy- and they ended up opening three or four more branches that served halal food." She also believed that this could be a great model for other restaurants, urging them to follow suit. "We can tell restaurants that this is what KFC - one restaurant did, and how it really helped them gain a lot more traction by introducing more halal food. If you do that too, you can get a lot more customers."

🎉 Exciting News! Foodie Explorerz was recently featured in The Straits Times, where our Founder, Maryam Khan, discussed the growing trend of Halal Tourism in Hong Kong. Maryam highlights that although there has been a gradual increase in Halal food options in Hong Kong, it remains predominantly limited to Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. She emphasises the importance of offering Cantonese cuisine to Muslim visitors and suggests that the government should prioritise promoting it. 🗣 "It is worth considering that many Muslim visitors coming to Hong Kong are from the Middle East, so it would be a missed opportunity if they couldn't experience something new and different from what their hometown already offers." Catering to the Muslim tourist goes beyond food, though. She also mentions how it's beneficial to implement things like designated prayer areas for Muslims. “Airports serve as an excellent example, with many – including Hong Kong’s – providing prayer rooms, considering the influx of people from different countries. As an international destination, Hong Kong should strive to accommodate the diverse backgrounds of its visitors.” Read the full article here: https://shorturl.at/ACeG8   #HalalTourism #HalalMarket #HongKongTourism 

Foodie Explorerz, a page dedicated to sharing Halal eateries in Hong Kong, was recently featured in the South China Morning Post SCMP. During the feature, our Founder, Maryam Khan, shared valuable insights about the Halal food scene in Hong Kong. With a following of 18k+ on Instagram, it is clear that there is a growing demand for restaurants and eateries that cater to the needs of the Muslim community in Hong Kong. Maryam mentions how local spots like cha chaan teng and dai pai dong offering halal options would level up the dining experience. She shares, "Imagine fully enjoying Hong Kong's lively food scene, including its famous street food, while staying true to your dietary preferences. It would be a game-changer." Currently, Middle Eastern visitors represent a small percentage, accounting for only 0.05% of total visitors and ranking 30th in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2023. To tackle this issue, efforts are underway by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, including a campaign to encourage businesses to obtain halal certification. This campaign encompasses various categories, such as: 👉 Fully halal restaurants, with halal-certification 👉 Establishments with separate halal kitchens that also serve non-halal meat and alcohol 👉 Halal-friendly eateries with stringent contamination prevention measures. Foodie Explorerz is actively engaged in providing information and transparency about the diverse restaurants in Hong Kong, covering all three categories mentioned. We are dedicated to contributing to the food scene and making a positive impact on the culinary landscape, hoping to make a continuous impact on this niche but growing community. Check out the full article here: https://shorturl.at/beiGS #HalalFood #HalalIndustry #Tourism

"The demand for Halal Food in Hong Kong has experienced a significant surge in recent years. With a growing Muslim population and an increasing number of tourists seeking halal options, the demand for halal-certified restaurants and food products has reached new heights." With the recent launch of the first-ever Halal Pavilion at Hong Kong's Convention and Exhibition Centre, I couldn't resist the opportunity to share this article. It's been a while since my last post, but this significant development calls for a timely discussion on the rise of Halal food in Hong Kong. In this article, you'll find insights on: 📈 The rise of Halal food globally and in Hong Kong 🍽️ Understanding what Halal food entails 🌎 The global demand for Halal food 🏙️ The demand for Halal food in Hong Kong 💡 Reasons why Hong Kong should incorporate Halal food Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gA6pJAdD #Halal #HalalFood #HalalIndustry