The July-August issue of Islamic Tourism introduces the visitor to three types of oases: The “modernâ€Â, the “authentic†and the “historicalâ€Â. In the modern oases, the socio-economic space is dominated by up-to-date infrastructure, business activities and construction. In the historical oases the socio-economic space is dominated by cultural landmarks, ancient ruins and well-established business activities, while traditional agricultural methods and pre-modern lifestyles dominate in the authentic oases. Tunisia is also emerging as an eco tourism destination with a unique desert environment.
The editorial points out that: “Water is becoming a scarce commodity and future disagreements between nations may revolve around it. Our present issue moves away from the political debate to concentrate on the tourism potential of marshes, oases and rivers. In a wide range of articles, the reader will have a tour of the Thames in the UK, the Iraqi marshes, backwaters in India and oases across the Arab world.â€Â
Iraq has a charming, unique and beautiful region that has been described as the Venice of the Middle East due to its splendid nature and magnificent landscapes. It is one of the largest ecosystems on the planet, with the strangest aquatic environment, where man, animals, birds and fish all live on water in a magical and independent environment, cut off from the world. Walid Abdul-Amir Alwan visits the marshlands, reports on the history and culture of its inhabitants and the latest attempts to reverse the devastating drainage project which threatens a way of life dating back to Sumerian times.
Dr Kadhim Shamhood Taher writes about the two Al Halfaya’s – one in Andalusia, one in southern Iraq. Al Halfaya is also the name of a novel about the noble life of the ancestors of the Sumerians and Babylonians.
The publisher, A. S. Shakiry, writes on the problem of “how to build bridges of communication among Islamic nations in the 21st century?†He blames governments in the Islamic World for the level of intolerance there and suggest few constructive remarks:
Takfir (saying that the other is not a Muslim) should be prohibited, all those who have the intention to kill, help in killing or cause damage to another Muslim should be punished, universities and specialized religious institutes should teach the doctrines of different well-known Islamic schools, and the mausoleums of the imams, the Prophet's companions and saints of Islam, as well as the historical Islamic and cultural symbols should be reconstruct. If some people don’t agree with the last point, they only have to carry out a general referendum. These are not the tombs of ordinary individuals but people who lived in the time of the divine message or continued spreading the religion.
The publisher also wrote a short article to describe the commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Elegant mosques dot the landscape of Oman lending it a well‑defined character of an Islamic ambience. Aftab Husain Kola visits the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque which aims at making Oman a symbol of Islamic culture. The unique Al Aqsa Mosque, the beating heart of East Jerusalem, is also described in detail.
Mounir El-Fishawy visits El-Alameen, one of the major battle grounds of WWII - a soldiers' hell now metamorphosed into a paradise for tourists.
Articles on Asia introduce Sabah in Malaysia, a distant, different destination which offers new interests and a touch of excitement with opportunities for rain forest trekking, white water rafting and climbing 14,000 ft Mount Kinabalu, - the highest mountain in South East Asia. Laos is blessed with splendid natural tourist assets. Tourism has also been encouraged by the development of the infrastructure and the encouragement of foreign investment. . It may be a small country, but it has 46 airports.
Islamic Tourism's coverage of exhibitions includes the 7th International Exhibition of Tourism and Travel in Algiers, the Haj and Umrah Fair held in Cairo, the Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai, the Webex Internet Show and the Global Village in Amman and the Arab World Travel and Tourism Exchange (AWTTE 2005) planned in Beirut at the end of September.
Islamic Tourism is a bimonthly 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. |