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GITC TO ESTABLISH WORLD SECRETARIAT ON ISLAMIC TOURISM &
LAUNCH 7 WONDERS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD*
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2008 - A World Islamic Tourism Secretariat and a world listing of the Seven Wonders of the
Islamic World are two proposals that will be presented during the Global Islamic Tourism Exhibition and
Conference (GITC) to be held for three days from July 30 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
GITC is an event under the auspices of the National Tourism Council of Malaysia (NTCM), a non-governmental
organisation dedicated to the promotion of tourism for the last three decades.
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, has agreed to officiate GITC's opening while
Tourism Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said will be hosting a private luncheon with captains of industry,
NGOs and international representatives on the first day of the conference event on 31 July. Several local
and foreign speakers have also agreed to present working papers and share their experiences at GITC.
The proposed World Islamic Tourism Secretariat is planned as a body to be based in Malaysia with the sole
purpose of promoting world tourism, especially in coordinating private sector and NGO efforts in tourism
activities.
According to Datuk Ahmad Talib, organizing chairman of the GITC and a Board Member of the NTCM, Muslims travel
extensively throughout the world and have helped enrich world tourism business tremendously.
‘It is because of this that the secretariat intends to also set new benchmarks in hospitality products and
services in the Islamic world besides encouraging the same in non-Islamic countries.
“It is hoped that these efforts would spur more growth in tourism business all over the world,” Datuk Ahmad said.
He added that since Muslims travel all over the globe, the Secretariat's role is also to play an advisory role
to hoteliers, restaurants and other service providers especially in non-Muslim countries.
“In this way, Muslims would be able to visit and find suitable accommodation and food that fall within Muslim
laws and standards.”
The Secretariat is expected to work closely with the World Islamic Economic Forum which is chaired by Malaysia
and was set up in 2003. It is also envisaged that the Secretariat will enable Malaysia to take the lead role in
promoting Islamic tourism worldwide and help popularise this as a niche market. The secretariat can also encourage
easier people-to-people interaction which can lead to more businesses and understanding of Islam throughout the world.
The other new initiative, the world listing of the Seven Wonders of the Islamic World, will draw nominations
from all over the world as to what they consider to be Wonders of Islam. They include buildings with historical
and architectural beauty, tradition and excellence; tourist sites which have historical, educational and aesthetic
values and new and established destinations that should earn their place on the tourism world map.
The listing and profiling of the Seven Wonders of the Islamic World is expected to promote tourism to these
destinations and give a new meaning to world tourism. The listings will be compiled and documented so that
the history, background and significance of these Seven Wonders of Islam will not be forgotten, but in fact
properly chronicled and remembered. Documentation will be done traditionally, that is via printed publications,
and using the new media. The first set of nominations for the Seven Wonders of the Islamic World is expected
to be unveiled during a Gala Dinner during the exhibition and conference.
Inquiries on the inaugural GITC or bookings for the booths and conference packages can be done online at
www.islamic-tourism.com or by calling +603-56388890.
* 7 Wonders of the Islamic World is a product of the GITC
Issued for and on behalf of the Global Islamic Tourism Conference by The Songket Place Sdn Bhd.
Media enquiries: Datin Norsimah @ media@islamic-tourism.com (mobile: +6012-2183324.).
Click here for Press Release in Bahasa Malaysia
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