The winners of the Halal In Travel (HIT) Awards 2025 and the HalalTrip 40 (HT40) 2025 were revealed during the third day of the Halal In Travel Global Summit (HITGS) 2025 on 12th June. This year’s awards celebrated exceptional contributions to the Halal travel ecosystem, recognising trailblazers, innovators, and influencers shaping the future of Muslim-friendly travel.
Held under the theme “Halal Travel 360: Innovation, Experience, and Responsibility”, HITGS 2025 brought together global leaders, travel experts, and changemakers in Singapore to discuss the evolving needs of Muslim travellers and drive forward inclusive, sustainable tourism practices.
This year’s HIT Awards honoured fifteen outstanding recipients across four distinct categories, each representing excellence in Muslim-friendly tourism.
Category 1: Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) Awards
These awards celebrate top-ranked destinations in the GMTI 2025, having gone above and beyond to create a welcoming and accommodating environment for Muslim travellers. The 2025 honorees are:
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Top Muslim-friendly Destination of The Year: Malaysia
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Top Muslim-friendly Destination of The Year (non-OIC): Singapore
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Most Promising Muslim-friendly Destination of The Year: Hong Kong, China
Category 2: Muslim-Friendly Service Provider Awards
Recognising the paramount importance of catering to the specific needs of the Muslim travellers, these awards celebrate establishments that have excelled in providing exceptional and tailor-made services for Muslim travellers. This year’s distinguished awardees include:
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Muslim-friendly Hotel Chain of The Year: Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, The Philippines
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Muslim-friendly Hotel of The Year: Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
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Muslim-friendly Hotel of The Year: The Mira Hong Kong
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Muslim-Friendly Convention & Exhibition Centre of The Year: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
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Muslim-friendly Attraction of The Year: Ngong Ping 360 Limited, Hong Kong
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Muslim-friendly Restaurant Chain of The Year: Mohd Chan Group Berhad, Malaysia
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Outstanding Contribution to Hong Kong’s Halal Dining Landscape: Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong
Category 3: HalalTrip Travellers Choice Awards
These awards highlight destinations that offer enriching experiences and launched impactful marketing campaign:
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Halal Travel Marketing Campaign of The Year: Switzerland Tourism
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Muslim Women Friendly City Destination of The Year: Taipei City Government
Category 4: Halal Travel Personalities of the Year
These awards honour individuals who have made significant contributions to promoting and enhancing halal travel, recognising their dedication and influence in the industry:
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Halal Travel Personality of The Year: Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, Undersecretary, Philippine Department of Tourism
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Halal Travel Influencer of The Year: Hassan Bulbul, @halaltravel_lens
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Halal Travel Scholar of The Year: Dr Nurhafihz Noor, Lecturer in Marketing at James Cook University Singapore
Raudha Zaini, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Project Lead at HalalTrip, said, “The HIT Awards and HalalTrip 40 shine a spotlight on the individuals, destinations, and organisations that are not only meeting the needs of Muslim travellers, but elevating the standard of what meaningful, inclusive travel should look like. At CrescentRating and HalalTrip, we’re proud to recognise these changemakers who are shaping the future of Halal travel through innovation, authenticity, and purpose-driven impact.”
The HT40 2025 recognised 40 inspiring individuals who are driving meaningful impact in the Muslim travel landscape. The list features content creators, social entrepreneurs, and advocates from across the globe. Some of the awardees included:
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The Trailblazers: Fatima Al Ali – an Emirati ice hockey player and content creator showcasing the vibrant intersection of faith and culture.
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The Creators: Shoaib from China (EatAi亦太) – a Chinese food influencer bridging cultures through culinary adventures.
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The Advocates: Arfah Farooq – a digital entrepreneur empowering Muslim communities through technology.
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The Inspirers: Jasmine Tay – a young voice sharing insights on faith, identity, and belonging.
As the Muslim travel market continues to evolve, CrescentRating and HalalTrip remain dedicated to fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the Halal travel ecosystem. The HIT Awards and HT40 stand as a testament to the collective efforts of destinations, businesses, and individuals in creating authentic, enriching experiences for Muslim travellers around the world.
