The view from the other side: Reconsidering “Orientalism” It may be true to say, if you have a radical point of view, try to avoid the academic
crowd. They will try to tear what you say to pieces and refute it. If they fail to do
so, then they will try to dilute it.
It is now five years since the death of the Palestinian thinker and American academic
critic Edward Said. It is also thirty years since he issued his pioneering, and eye
opening, book “Orientalism”. It may be the first time ever that the East found its
voice to confront the West with its responsibilities, in terms, concepts, methods of
analysis and references in line with standards acceptable in the West.(02)
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We talked in previous issues
about different types of
tourism dominant in the world, and
were able to conclude that for us the
best kind is Religious Tourism. This
tourism follows in the footsteps of
the prophets and saints, because
their life is a guide for believers and
their method is a beacon
illuminating the way forward. Their
mausoleums are mosques where
people pray, contemplate the
lives of these great personalities,
implore God for forgiveness, help
and to provide them with peace
and security in this world and in
the afterlife.(06)
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a glorious past and a modest present In the past, Rome, which was founded in 753 BC was one of the most important centres of
the civilized world. It was a real Ka’aba, to which Christians around the world came to make
their pilgrimage to the Vatican, which was the centre of the Catholic world. It was also a world
centre for scientists, artists and scholars of poetry, literature and mythology.(08-12)
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British Orientalist Painting The Lure of the East: British Orientalist Painting, opened last month at Tate Britain. It is the
first exhibition to survey the history of British painters’ representations of the Middle East from
the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. It explores the great range of artistic
responses to the peoples, cities and landscapes of the region.(14)
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Attracts more and more Arab visitors The German Travel Mart (GTM) is an event organized by the German National Tourist Board
in which Germany presents itself as a travel destination and introduces its new campaigns to
international buyers and media representatives. This year this event took place in Munich.(16)
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An Unusual Symbiosis A five-star room with a view, and what a sight---a full overhead of Malaysia's most
notorious prison, gallows and all. A few floors down and I'd be locking eyeballs with the
tower guard.(18-20)
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Impressive Arab presence The business fair IMEX is one of the international highlights in the international meetings
industry calendar. This April, for the sixth time, the exhibition for incentive travel, meetings
and events (which is abbreviated to IMEX) was held in Hall 8 at the Frankfurt fairground.(22)
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Promotion emphases religious tourism Jordan, which has seen some of its landscapes appear in such movie blockbusters as Indiana
Jones and the Final Crusade, has truly gotten involved in show business.
The Jordan Tourism Board staged a tourism
show for buyers from the Americas, with
the event a first for a country that wants
international travelers to view it as a stand-alone
destination, rather than an add-on to Egypt or
other countries in the region, and so it is
promoting varied vacation options, among
them visiting the ancient Anabaena city of
Petra, where structures were literally carved
from rock faces.(24)
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Classic Mogul Architecture The tombs of the rulers are like preserved miniatures of past civilizations: they are the
historic and cultural heritage left behind for generations to come. Unlike the living
legends their occupants reflect their respective era like a vivid, colourful, perceptible
and explicable still life painting.(26-32)
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Spanish Gem In A Necklace Of Mayan Splendour Some years back, I asked a friend, after he had made a long trip to the Yucatán, Mexico's
famous land of Mayan pyramids, “What was the most memorable place you visited during
your travels?” Without hesitation, he replied, “The beautiful white city of Mérida. It is a
Spanish gem, set in a necklace of Mayan splendour.” His words formed a picture which
lingered in my mind for years.(34-36)
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India's stand at this year’s ATM was one of the most active. During the main conference on
Indian Tourism, I asked the Minister of State for Tourism & Culture about the best place for
Arab Tourists this summer. She introduced me to Mr. Naeem Akhtar, the Secretary to
Government in the Tourism Department in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Akhtar told me that
Jammu and Kashmir is the best place for Arab tourists.(40)
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A Distinctive Blend Of East And West After many years transiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi en-route to SE Asia but never outside the
airports, this year my destination was primarily Abu Dhabi.
Capital of the UAE, it is the cultural,
political and economic heart of the
country. The largest of the seven emirates,
its wealth shows in high rise commercial
buildings, luxury hotels, shopping malls and
vast projects. A five year plan will see the
completion of major cultural museums(42-46)
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Despite the large number of competitors, the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) still keeps its position
as leader of Arab tourism exhibitions. This year it saw an increasing number of visitors.(48)
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Ahwash, heritage in the service of tourism Ouarzazate, the pearl of southern Morocco, known for its calm and tranquillity, had an
exciting and dynamic exceptional weekend, with the “Ahwash (village music) Festival”
which transformed the streets of the city into a happy feast with the rhythm of
enchanting folk music and beautiful collective dances, to delight local residents and
tourists, domestic and foreign.(50-54)
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We still need a long-term national strategy ITM took a great interest in tourism in Yemen, highlighting various aspects of its
attractions. The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Mr. Nabil Hassan Al-Faqih, talked about his
ministry’s policies to the representative of the magazine in Yemen.(56-58)
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A positive step has been taken by the Syrian Ministry of Tourism in organising the
exhibition of domestic tourism (Syrian Travel Fair) which was inaugurated by the Prime
Minister and the Minister of Tourism of Syria. It was held from 22nd to 24th May. The
event saw the participation of all Syrian provinces and a number of travel agencies, hotels
and tourism professionals.(60)
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The birth place of the alphabet and home to the first tourist We had no intention of visiting the city of Uruk, even though we were on a working trip to the
city of Samawah. But our host proposed a visit to this historic city and we accepted without
hesitation. It was a unique opportunity given the importance of the heritage of Uruk, the first
cradle of civilization, where we could follow in the footsteps of history's first tourists. We
went to the Office of Heritage of Al-Muthanna for the formalities of travel. Then we left for the
city of the mythological hero Gilgamesh, accompanied by our guide Sayed Jacob, who
inherited this job from his father. Born in the city of Uruk he seemed to be a descendant of
the mythical king.(62-70)
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A time for optimism “The cradle of ancient civilization” owns sites that do not belong to Iraq alone but to the
whole world, Bahaa Mayah, a ministerial adviser at the State Ministry of Tourism and
Antiquities, emphasised.(72-74)
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