The Greater Bay Area Is Courting Muslim Travellers, And Malaysia Is Where It Began
A joint Greater Bay Area tourism event in Kuala Lumpur on 13 August led — in practice, if not on paper — with halal dining, Muslim content creators, and Hong Kong’s first halal-certified Chinese fine-dining restaurant.
- Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macao jointly promoted the Greater Bay Area as a multi-destination travel option for Malaysian tourists.
- Muslim travellers are increasingly catered for, with halal-certified restaurants and Muslim-friendly attractions available across the region.
- The three destinations are connected by high-speed rail and bridge, making them reachable within an hour of each other.
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Hong Kong has a halal-certified Chinese fine-dining restaurant.
It is called Chinesology, the first of its kind in the city.
Most Malaysians did not know that until recently; that was partly the point.
The Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a Chinese national economic initiative spanning nine Guangdong cities — including Shenzhen and Guangzhou — alongside Hong Kong and Macau.
Together they form one of the largest economic clusters in the world, and increasingly, a single multi-destination travel region.
It is that last part that brought everyone to Kuala Lumpur.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, and the Macao Government Tourism Office convened in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (13 August) to jointly promote the Greater Bay Area as a multi-destination travel option for Malaysian travellers.
Chinesology was on hand to make the case in the most direct way possible, by serving contemporary Cantonese dishes to the room.
The event also featured two Malaysian Muslim content creators, Nana Mohd and Ain Ramli, who shared first-hand accounts of travelling across the GBA as Muslim visitors.
HKTB separately highlighted an expanding range of halal-certified and Muslim-friendly restaurants, attractions, and facilities across Hong Kong.
Why Malaysia, and How It Works
Malaysia was selected as this year’s host market for the annual promotion, reflecting, according to the organisers, the country’s growing significance as an outbound travel source.
The broader pitch: Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao are connected by high-speed rail and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
Most destinations within the region are reachable within an hour.
One trip, three destinations, no domestic flights required.
Three Cities, Three Pitches, and the World’s Best Bar
Anthony Lau, Executive Director of HKTB, stated that the Greater Bay Area allows travellers to plan holidays that are “easy to plan yet rich in experiences,” with Hong Kong positioned as a gateway to the wider region.
Huang Xi Zhong, Level II Bureau Rank Official of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, noted that each city carries a distinct identity — from Shenzhen’s technology landscape to Guangzhou’s culinary traditions.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, cited Macao’s dual UNESCO designation — World Heritage site and Creative City of Gastronomy — as the foundation of the destination’s appeal to international visitors.
The event also featured Bar Leone — the first Asian bar to top The World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2025 — which served cocktails and mocktails at the showcase.
Greater Bay Area travel packages, developed in partnership with AirAsia and seven Malaysian travel agents, are available for the local market.
For more information, visit www.discovergreaterbayarea.com.
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