25 Muslim-Friendly Hotels in Taipei  Offer Prayer Timetables and Ablution Facilities

▲Taipei City Tourism Bureau runs a Muslim-friendly accommodation counseling program. (Photo/Taipei City Tourism Bureau, same below)

Local Center / Comprehensive Report

The number of Muslim travelers is on the rise,and in November, Taipei added 16 more Muslim-friendly hotels, bringing the total to 25 — the highest in Taiwan. These range from youth hostels starting at a few hundred NT dollars, business hotels costing a few thousand, to high-end hot spring resorts. Among them, four hotels offer Muslim meals. CrescentRating points out that easy access to halal food, provision of prayer timetables, guidance to the direction of Mecca, and the availability of ablution facilities in bathrooms are among the most important indicators of a Muslim-friendly hotel.

Although Muslim travelers still make up a minority of visitors to Taiwan, the global Muslim population — which accounts for a quarter of the world — has already drawn widespread attention. According to MasterCard and the internationally renowned Muslim tourism organization CrescentRating in their “Global Muslim Travel Index” released this March,Taiwan’s score in “Muslim Accommodation Availability” rose by 35% compared to the previous year in 2015.

▲Muslim-friendly hotel rooms are equipped with simple prayer mats, certified coffee packets, and stickers indicating the direction of Mecca.

Previously, the nine Muslim-friendly hotels offered by Taipei were mostly high-end establishments. Now, after holding two counseling sessions for Muslim-friendly accommodations and undergoing multiple evaluations and certifications, the Tourism Bureau has selected 16 more affordable options ranging from a few hundred to several thousand NT dollars. Through collaboration with Taipei Mosque, training courses, and four on-site counseling sessions, these hotels aim to provide Muslim travelers with a reassuring stay.

Chen Yahui, head of the Tourism Industry Division at the Tourism Bureau, said that about two-thirds of Muslim travelers hope hotels can provide halal food and ablution facilities as much as possible. But if a hotel doesn’t have an in-house restaurant, providing a list of nearby halal restaurants at the front desk also shows respect for Muslim guests.

It is reported that during the Eid al-Fitr event held at Taipei Mosque in July, Mayor Ko Wen-je stated, “Taiwan is one of the most

The percentage indicates the direction and distance from the current location to the destination. (Note: The current location is in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.)