The new issue of ITM has been published. It has a good coverage of tourism in China and South East Asia. It also has articles on different tourism destinations throughout the world.
Asia
In the Asia section ITM features articles on China, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Ala Al-Hamarneh points out, Hong Kong is not a simple combination and mixture of cultures and styles; it is rather an organic fusion of people and histories that have created its own character and brand. It is definitely not an “English Town†in China that can simply be copied and reconstructed in other countries and areas. It is just Hong Kong; a great architecture, an interesting urban life, a charming international atmosphere, a mysterious history, attractive countryside and smiling people who are happy to host and help visitors.
Bangkok – the Thais call it “Krung Thep“ - City of Angels - one of the most highly-populated cities in the world – the exotic Grand Palace, residence of the King until the 1950s – temples - the busy comings and goings in the network of canals – all attract visitors. Asian hospitality, deeply religious feelings and loyalty to the state on the one hand and the chaotic traffic situation, noise and air and water pollution on the other combine to define life in this Asian metropolis. Johannes Bardong reports from the Thai capital.
The Chinese are gently pumping the brakes on their 2008 Olympic projects because they were much too far ahead of the "Games," to put it mildly. Dominick Merle discusses preparations for the international event with Gao Fu of Beijing's tourism office. He also tours Beijing where history, more than 5,000 years of it, remains the heart and soul of China's capital. After visiting the forbidden city, the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, he moves to the Great Wall one of the world's, No. 1 tourist attractions and takes a plane to Shandong Province, birthplace of the Chinese philosopher Confucius who lived 500 years before Christ and whose sayings are now in a bit of a revival.
Canada
Canada has become one of the most celebrated destinations for nature lovers and wildlife photographers, offering some of the most stunning mountain landscapes and charismatic mega fauna found anywhere in the world today. Paul Stone reports.
Mexico
Habeeb Salloum visits Puebla, Mexico’s city of angels. On its outskirts lies Cholula once one of Mexico’s largest cities: a pottery manufacturing centre as well a sacred city which beside the Great Pyramid, had 400 other temples. The Spanish razed these temples to the ground, to erase the vestiges of the pagan religions and built from their stones many of today’s 128 town churches. The city is noted for the Arab-Spanish influenced tiles with which many of the colonial buildings are adorned.
Arab World
Sumera Aisha Malik shares her moving experience of hajj with ITM. She writes “As I stood before the holy Ka’bah I was dumbfounded with a sense of awe. I heard masses of people praising God indistinguishably, putting aside their variations of creed and colour, young and old standing shoulder to shoulder, the black man joining hands with the white man. It was a remarkable sight. And then I had a splendid sensation, the one, which said: “This exquisite sight is the one thing, you cannot put your finger on but which you know is the reason for your existence and the basis of the entire universe.â€Ââ€Â.
ITM’s publisher, Mr A.S. Shakiry discusses Iraq’s tremendous potential for the development of tourism in his monthly column Islamic Tourism Prospects. Tourism is nowadays the most important sector of economic development. Iraq, which is rich in tourist landmarks will benefit from its historic, archaeological and natural attractions. It has a heritage for the whole of humanity, not only that of a nation, a religion or a civilization. Hence, this call is extended to the people of the whole world to help the new Iraq get over its crisis and play its enlightened role in the development of the region. If politics destroyed bonds between the people of the area, he hopes that tourism is the bridge between people and nations.
Nour-Eddine Saoudi and Najib Khalifa interview Mohamed Boukhiyam a craftsman who learned tailoring from his ancestors. He has been recently elected president of the Chamber of Traditional Crafts in Casablanca and discusses the role of the craft industry in the promotion of tourism.
Europe
The historic English town of Southampton is featured in our European section. The 14th century Wool House is the city’s Maritime Museum with a fine collection of model ships and a section devoted to the Titanic. Derick McGroarty who has lived in Southampton for three decades takes a fresh look at its attractions.
The real treasure of Aachen is the hot springs. According to legend, Charlemagne himself came upon the ruins of a Roman bath. After returning from a gruelling battle, he found the waters so refreshing that he decided to make the place his favourite residence. Armin Gemmer visits the baths and reports on Aachen's sites including the catherdral - one of the first buildings to be listed in the UNESCO Heritage Site Register in 1978.
Exhibitions
ITM had stands at the World Travel Market, ATB in Syria, MADI fair in the Czech Republic, EIBTM in Barcelona, Philoxenia and Exporam (both in Greece).
Editorial
In his monthly note the Editor-in-Chief Dr Abdul Rahim Hassan suggests that the globalization of values is long overdue. We live in a polarised world despite all the talk about globalization. It seems that we are much more open to trade and technology but not to values, thoughts and religion – all the fields that matter most to human life. There is always talk about East and West, Islam and Christianity and other topics. But we need a reminder that human beings are the same everywhere and values are shared across boundaries and cultures.
ITM is a magazine published in English, French, Spanish, German and Arabic. A Russian edition is planned. Its website (www.islamictourism.com) features five weekly news bulletins in the five 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.
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