With the publication of this issue, Islamic Tourism magazine celebrates its fifth anniversary. Its greatest achievement has been the publication of the magazine in Arabic and four other languages. Every two months we bring out an Arabic-English, Arabic-French, Arabic-Spanish and Arabic-German edition. Other international languages are being considered. The issue (number 25) has a new design for the cover and all the pages.
The publisher, Mr A S Shakiry reviews the magazine’s development and outlines his proposals for the establishment of an Academy of Islamic Tourism. He gives as a justification of this proposal the deep thought that after having seen the fruit of economic welfare, tourism became the engine of this wellbeing, to which all countries of the world aspire. Last century agriculture and industry attracted large investments. Today tourist projects require billions of dollars, as in the case of the Gulf States, which are carrying out giant projects and spending millions of dollars on tourism promotion and the attraction of foreign to urists. He also states the study programme, the facilities that will be available for the students and their job prospects.
The Editor-in-Chief Dr A R Hassan comments on the indomitable spirit of the Lebanese people and pays tribute to a country which has risen like a phoenix from the ashes to once again be the jewel in the crown of Arab tourism. Mounir Al Fishawy proposes a war tourism project to bring the visitors back to Lebanon.
Continuing the theme of educational tourism, Dr Ala Al-Hamarneh describes international universities in the Arab world and their contribution to tourism, education and business. The tourism and travel business has been gaining impressively from the changes in higher education in terms of tourism infrastructure and of cities? images. Hotels and other accommodation facilities are mushrooming in and around university campuses. Academic activities in universities promote cultural tourism through book exhibitions, theater, cinema and fine art festivals.
Nour-eddine Saoudi describes Ramadan in Tunisia where worship and festivity co-exist in a happy symbiosis and the Tunisians enjoy a variety of superb dishes.
Walid Abdul-Amir Alwan reports on Al Ukhaider one of the amazing fortresses of the Islamic world located in Iraq’s western desert. Its secrets are not yet completely revealed and it remains an enigma for archaeologists and researchers who are unaware of its founder, the reason or the date of its construction, or even if it is Islamic or Sassanid. We also describe the attractions of the Kurdish regions of I raq, Iran, Syria and Turkey where the inhabitants are eager to welcome visitors and develop tourism.
Mounir El Fishawy visits the mausoleum of Imam Al Hussein Ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet in Cairo. He describes the martyrdom of Hussein, and the precious mausoleum. The mausoleum is in the famous quarter located between Khan Al Khalili and Al Azhar mosque, where it acts as a beacon for religious tourists and visitors to Cairo.
Charles Stirling describes the tourist revolution in Egypt’s Red Sea which started with a few scuba divers, mainly from the UK and Europe, who discovered the fantastic underwater life and conditions along these coasts. Today the seaside of the Sinai Peninsula and mainland coast, nearly down to Marsa Alam, has resort hotel complexes offering enough amenities that visitors needn't set foot off the chosen property during a week's holiday.
Saidnaya and Maaloula, the historic Aramaic towns of Syria, are visited by hundreds of local, Arab and international tourists. Both are included in package tours and are a must for individual tourists. The rich history and religious exclusiveness as well as the gorgeous geographic location and hospitality of the locals are evidence of the religious and cultural richness of modern Syrian society.
European destinations are also featured in our magazine. Joahnnes Bardong reports from Heidelberg, one of the most beautiful German cities, which inspired poets and artists of the romantic period. Mr Bardong also reports from the World Tourism Games in Austria where a newcomer team from Oman took fourth place in the skiing event.
We also explore North and South America. Karen Dabrowska reports from Greenwood, Canada’s smallest city. Habeeb Salloum visits Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco and one of the great colonial cities which embodies the soul of Mexico.
Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and residence of the Queen. It is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. Derek McGroaty visits the state rooms open to the public from late July till September and comments on the magnificent furnishings and historical events which took place inside the palace.
It isn't often that you go somewhere and don't even know it until you get back home. Such was the case with Dominick Merle’s visit to two islands off the coast of northeast Africa -Madeira, a part of Portugal, and the Canaries, a part of Spain: they are in fact part of Macaronesia, an almost mythical land.
Islamic Tourism is a magazine published in English, French, Spanish, German and Arabic. 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. |