The March-April issue of Islamic Tourism focuses on religious tourism and hajj. The publisher of the magazine, Mr A.S.Shakiry reflects on his recent pilgrimage to Mecca, traces the history of the Kaaba, describes its architecture and points out that with two million people standing on Mt Arafat no other form of tourism can compete with religious tourism. Mohammad Mekabbaty comments on the hajj from the 1900s till the present day and reflects on the tremendous improvements in facilities – as seen from postcards of Mecca and Medina. He also introduces the Haj and Umrah Expo sponsored by Dubai International Airport, Amjad, Sejel and Islamic Tourism Magazine, under the supervision of the organisers Third Dimension.
The Editor-in Chief, Dr A.R. Hassan, discusses tourism in a commercial world and points out that ethics every where has been substituted by commercialism. This hurts most when it happens in Muslim countries with their detailed religious and ethical requirements for a clean environment, physically and morally. The threat of commercialism may be expanded so far as to include holy places and well preserved communities that provide humanity with its diversity and alternative way of life.
Senegal is an ideal tourist destination for visitors throughout the world who are trying to discover and understand Africa’s traditions and appreciate the cultural heritage of Islam, especially Sufism. Those who are searching for exoticism, natural beauty and serenity will also find Senegal makes their dreams come true. Nour-eddine Saoudi visits this unique West African state, its Islamic sites and its splendid national parks.
Geoff Hann proprietor of Hinterland Travel reflects on another trip to Afghanistan: “Arriving in Herat, I was almost shocked to see the development that had taken place since my previous visit only a year ago. The city's roads were completed and new office-shopping complexes along the main street were rising rapidly, along with new shoe and clothes shops and IT centers. The traditional, low rise buildings had been torn down. As a Westerner, I am not sure this is the kind of progress I like, but the changes in Afghanistan cannot be deniedâ€Â.
We also describe Malaysia and its best kept secret, Penang. Sabah and Sarawak on the legendary island of Borneo greet visitors with plants that eat meat, snakes that fly, pigs with beards and full-grown deer the size of small dogs. A visit to Vietnam provides tourists with a golden opportunity to take advantage of the extraordinary nature with which God endowed this country. Tourists will also meet its people who are well known for their courage, intelligence, creativity and generosity.
The magazine also reports on a major exhibition held in London at the beginning of the year: The Daily Telegraph’s Adventure Travel and Sports Show. Islamic Tourism magazine spoke to delegates from Libya, Turkey, North Cyprus and other leading Muslim destinations. Madrid became an international tourism capital during the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Fitur exhibition; the 2nd most important tourism exhibition in the world. Some 11,000 specialised companies, from 170 countries, and 100,000 visitors participated. Motaz Othman represented Islamic Tourism magazine, whose Spanish edition was very well received.
The Royal Academy of Art in London is now hosting a magnificent exhibition of Turkish heritage: “Turks; A journey of a thousand yearsâ€Â. The exhibition, which will be open till mid-April, takes the visitors on a tour through the different civilizations, which were established in central Asia. There are ten different galleries designed in chronological order covering the period between (600- 1600). Islamic Tourism’s London correspondent, Manal Ameer, describes the delights of exotic Turkish culture on display.
Since the 1950s, Arab intellectuals have been saying: “Cairo writes, Beirut prints and Baghdad readsâ€Â. This is still true today. Baghdad’s residents and foreigners continue to flock to Moutanabbi Street, the traditional haven for intellectuals and artists, situated to the East of the Tigris in the centre of Baghdad. It is a unique cultural phenomenon – a book market like no other! Walid Abdelamir Alwan reports from the heart of the Iraqi capital.
In 1960 Agadir was destroyed by a devastating earthquake. It is now a new, modern harmoniously-planned city with large avenues, blooming gardens, magnificent tourist infrastructure, a dynamic port (the second largest in the country) and a splendid bay that stretches for more than six kilometers. Nour-eddine Saoudi writes about southern Morocco at its best.
Governments all over the world are seeking to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) to improve their economies. The creation of new jobs and the transfer of know how to the receiving countries are main motives to open up economies to FDI. Tourism as highly globalized business is no exemption. Dipl. Geogr. Christian Steiner analyses this trend.
Amman-Motaz Othman describes the establishment of Marketing Task (MT) for the promotion of investment opportunities in Aqaba and attempts to develop it as a leading tourist destination.
Islamic Tourism is a magazine published in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. Its website (www.islamictourism.com) publishes two weekly news bulletins in the three languages. You can browse the news free of charge and read past issues of the magazine. Your comments are always welcome and will be gratefully received. The magazine has received a number of awards including an award from the 4th Exhibition of Hajj and Umrah, the 7th Int’l Travel and Tourism Expo in Kuwait as well as a shield from Abha in Saudi Arabia, presented by Prince Khalid Bin Faisal, the Emir of Asser and an award from KITF 2004 in Kazakhistan.