Travels in the Muslim world
UK: The Times reports from four countries doing their best to make visitors welcome
The Sunday Times has interviewed travellers who have visited a range of Muslim countries since the war started – and reports that by and large, visitors from western countries are being made very welcome indeed.
The newspaper interviews four travellers who have just returned from Malaysia, Morocco, Dubai and Turkey respectively, in the light of worrying FCO advice and reports that bookings to many Muslim countries are down as much as 50 per cent.
Matt Rudd, who visited Langkawi, Malaysia, said that there were “no pro-Saddam rants, no threats of jihad, no ceremonial burning of Union Jacks”. Locals were keen to chat about the war, Rudd reports, but “it didn’t affect things on my beach”.
Patricia Nicol, in Morocco, said that the country was feeling the effects of the war in that tourist numbers have decreased, but that “anybody making trouble for tourists is thrown in jail” and everyone was very hospitable, embarrassed to mention the war at all.
Marjan Jenkins headed off to Dubai, having first checked the FCO advice and “having no intention of joining large crowds or anti-Western demonstrations”. Despite flying out as the first strikes on Baghdad started, she pointed out that “30 years of Irish troubles were much closer to home” – and reported that “the only noticeable difference was how quiet it was” in Dubai.
George Nixon, in Turkey, said there was “no animosity” and that the locals were “as wonderful and welcoming as always”. Pointing out that visitor numbers are well down on normal years, he summed the situation thus: “It is a crying shame that people aren’t coming to Turkey.”
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