A number of impressive, well-researched papers covered the   prospects of tourism in Iran, its heritage natural attractions and the plans and work required to activate the movement of domestic, regional and international tourism. Many different points of view were presented in the papers and interventions. They illustrated the need for research and discussions to arrive at solutions to tourism promotion that reflect the aspirations and values that we seek in laying the proper foundation for our environment and position on the global tourism map. We saw how we can benefit from the experience of other countries. Many of the pros and a few negatives were highlighted.

I described my research and commented on tourism in general and the meaning of raising the slogan of “Islamic Tourism” which was adopted by ITM magazine and its website ITW before anyone thought of it.

1. My comment on the paper of the Malaysian representative is that Malaysia did mention its rich heritage and Islamic landmarks. It is an Islamic country and a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). My questions are there hotels which promote family values, the values of humanity and Islamic values? The speaker’s answer reflected positively with reservations about the excessive use of the slogan of Islamic Tourism in each of the areas of tourism in the world due to the sensitivity of the name.

2. When the Turkish representative reviewed the Turkish tourism potential and its constituents, especially the Islamic one, he listed a series of names of the Prophet’s Companions, saints, righteous Islamic monuments etc. My comment related to the history of these people, their lives and their contribution to Muslims and humanity.

Turkey put a wall or dividing line between treasures and historical monuments and its recent 80-year history when Ataturk decided to replace Turkish letters written in Arabic script with Latin. During the last two centuries researchers and scholars are continuing the research and analysis of  the  languages and cultures of prehistoric civilizations such as the Ancient Babylonians, Greeks and others, at a time when languages which almost disappeared have been restored and brought back to life by the use of technology and computers.

Has Turkey destroyed or wasted this Islamic and humanitarian treasure or are there museums or libraries that preserved it? Is it affordable for tourists and interested researchers? He replied that the doors are open at university level for researching it. I expressed my hope that this openness would be expanded

3. I  repeated and emphasised in my comments and paper  the importance of languages and their propagation, especially local ones, as they are treasures and national wealth, no less valuable than any remains or historic milestones possessed by a country. The time when local languages were suppressed due to arguments that they ignite militant nationalism and the fear of the disintegration of the homeland, has passed. Giving everyone his rights will develop the feeling of belonging to the homeland which preserved its heritage and maintains the equality, pride and well-being of all segments and ethnic groups.

Religion is for all countries and nationalities. The country is for all religions and nationalities. Let us make the citizen proud of his religion, homeland and nationality in order to be a good citizen. Nations will be open and will open channels for understanding with each other. The sentiment of the Koranic verse will become a reality: “O mankind! We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)” (Hujurat/13).

4. When the subject of tourism infrastructure came up for discussion, I commented that a solution to the traffic problem in cities, especially Islamic cities, should be found. The solutions so far were not effective in facilitating the movement of people through public transport, such as buses, rail transport, trams and subways. There should be an innovative means guaranteeing individual movement and preserving the areas served by the new transport system. Here, I presented the idea of creating “Cycling Higways” and explained their specifications and uses.

5-I participated in the session on the role of the media in tourism. There was an overview of the types of media, focusing on specialized media.  Professional media is most important   as  it links workers in the sector, helps them to develop their work through academic research and ideas as well as a reviewing various systems to develop workers in any sector to enable each institution or individual to qualify for marketing products, and to advertise them by various means.

6. I also touched on the importance of international, regional and local exhibitions in marketing various tourism products, each according to its nature, characteristics and advantages, especially tourism products which should be focused on through definition, development and marketing. The most important of these is all types of Islamic religious tourism and related heritage and tourist attractions.

7. I commented on the concepts of Islamic Tourism used throughout the discussions. Some restricted it to certain concepts such as tourism between Islamic countries or religious tourism and visits to the holy places. The analysis and discussions about the name of Islamic Tourism were not limited to one or two speakers, but took a great deal of conference time. It was emphasised that we have gone beyond the understanding of the concept of Islamic Tourism that limits it to certain types of tourism. We defined and emphasised that Islamic Tourism includes all types of responsible tourism which are committed to family morals, humanitarian and Islamic values. This concept has been taken up by international organizations and major companies marketing slogans for their exhibitions, including the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations, and  the British Reed company, which adopted the slogan for the last WTM exhibition in London, “Responsible Tourism,”. It has also promoted this concept after it emphasised some human values in its programs for 2007.  I can emphatically say that analyzing the meanings of Islamic Tourism is the theme that prevailed over all other conference themes.

8 – I presented my paper (the Spread of a Culture of Tourism) on the last day of the three-day conference. I prepared my paper in Arabic and translated it into English, but in the absence of translators from Arabic to Farsi, the language of most of the audience, I was given the choice between Persian and English. I chose English because I am more fluent in English then Persian, and focused on three axes:

First: School trips.

Second: The introduction of tourism into the curriculum and courses at all levels of education.

Third: The establishment of the Islamic Academy of tourism in Najaf.

These subjects are covered in my previous articles which have been reprinted in a book in Arabic and English. They are also on the website of Islamic Tourism magazine. 

Fortunately, I was the last speaker, and this paper was the last paper. The researchers touched on all matters submitted and reviewed attractive tourist projects. But none specifically touched on the education of scientifically qualified personnel to manage these projects:  planners, managers, guides in all kinds of tourism, and most important of all the dissemination of the culture of tourism among the younger generation and the nation. The renaissance of tourism culture in each nation should go side by side with the tourism boom and future plans.

My paper was very well received by scholars and researchers who appreciated my ideas, visions and prospects for Islamic Tourism. Most of the conference participants were university students who accompanied their professors.

I stated at the conclusion of these meetings that the success of the conference is not measured by the quality of attendance or the massive numbers during the three days-  it is measured by the results achieved in the light of the ideas, whether positive or negative, through the ensuing months and years, since every speech delivered adds to the  scientific and civilized wealth to be analysed  to find solutions to the problem highlighted, and to compose appropriate curricula for the dissemination of the culture of tourism among the next generation.

When politics put obstacles and imposes sanctions on nations, let us remove the letter s (in the Arabic spelling of the word “politics”) and replace it with “h” (in the Arabic spelling of the word), to let tourism  open the doors to pride and prosperity for our nations.

We ask God Almighty to bless and guide the organisers of this conference as well as the participants for the good of our nation and its future generations.

May God guide us to success.