In the run-up to the
election, when the two candidates were debating how to prosecute
the war in Iraq and headlines told of the beheading of a Japanese
tourist kidnapped in Baghdad, my inbox was filled with a steady
stream of political rants and humor.
So when I saw the
subject line Islamic Tourism, I suspected it was a joke. And in bad
taste.
But when I opened
it, the e-mail displayed the homepage of a London-based print
publication actually called Islamic Tourism (www.tourism.islamiclife.org/neww.php). It contained
links to stories about the attractions of Najaf, about efforts to
restore the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, about how Iraqi Airways is
flying again. While the Web page also highlighted other Middle
Eastern countries, the lead position was reserved for
Iraq.
Given that I had
previously read an article in which Iraqs tourism minister said he
spends his time trying to discourage tourism, and that Iraqi
Airways has but one plane in its fleet, and that -- not
insignificantly -- the only tourist anyone knows about was abducted
and executed, I had to wonder why Iraq was mentioned at all.
Northern Africa, Asia and even the Middle East are filled with
viable destinations a publication called Islamic Tourism could
focus on.
But in reading the
articles, a new perspective on tourism as a renewable resource came
to mind. The motivation for publishing these articles had nothing
to do with tourism promotion as we typically understand it. The
articles werent meant to entice visitors to come to Iraq. The
publisher appeared instead to be reporting news about Iraqs
admittedly lapsed tourism industry to remind the world (and Iraqis)
that Iraqs considerable attractions should not be treated as if
they simply dont exist.
Examples abound of
tourism renewal in formerly war-ravaged lands. The concept of a
vacation in Vietnam was for decades the height of absurdity --
until in short order it wasnt. Today, Lebanon is making a strong
comeback as a tourist destination with European travelers. If
pressed for my choice of the most magical place in the world, Id
say Luang Prabang, in Laos -- an unthinkable choice in the
not-too-distant past.
As a tourist
destination, Iraq today seems an unbridgeable distance from these
destinations. Does the average Iraqi even give a second thought to
tourism? Probably not. People in abnormal situations long first for
the return of normalcy -- being able to go to the market without
passing through roadblocks, let alone worrying about bombs once
theyve reached the market.
The
editor/publisher of Islamic Tourism, A.S. Shakiry, seems to be
saying that tourism is a symbolic indicator of, if not normalcy, a
link to normalcy. Many of the articles were aimed at awakening
Iraqs pride by focusing on its artistic achievements and legacy of
hospitality -- in stark contrast to the type of pride inspired by
its homegrown insurgency or its national brand of religious
fervor.
If you read his
treatise on Tourism Prospects, youll see that Shakiry may be the
only person born in Iraq who seems to have completely escaped the
tinge of Iraqs primary export -- cynicism. He certainly doesnt
worry about appearing foolish publishing news about Iraqi tourism.
Rather, he seems to practice a form of idealism that is akin to
that of the Wright Brothers, who didnt let mans eons-old record of
flightlessness discourage their pursuit of manned
flight.
Which puts Iraqi
Airways sole plane in a completely different symbolic light. Who
would have thought that, as the political season drew to a close,
the e-mail with the subject line Islamic Tourism would turn out to
be the most inspiring e-mail I received?