Thursday, March 29, 2007

Are we really Promoting Tourism?

Out of Habit, I was going through one of the leading newspaper of Maldives which also happen to be one of the most hit online newspaper of Maldives and apparently I came across an article/statement released by one of the party of Maldives known for its religious propaganda in its Manifesto.

The article was published out - as a reflection to the most recent controversial birthday celebration by anyone so far dated in the Maldives Tourism History. Estimates say that Philip Green spend around 6 Million Pounds (£) on this lavish party he organized in one of the resort of Maldives in which an all expense paid holiday for 200 close friends of Philip also joined in for 5 days with special items performed by the item Girl/Boys – Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and George Michael (unconfirmed reports saying that he charged around a whooping £750,000/- or more). The people who attended this party where not just ordinary friends, but some of the most famous and rich personalities engaged in fashion world, motor world and entertainment world.

The controversy started once after the people came to know about the two huge Idols of Buddha been erected in the resort where the party was held. It seems it went out of the religious view of the country and it was not allowed in the country. But I don’t know why people are making such a big fuss about this – If these people raise these as a way to get public vote or make awareness then they are just bluffing around.

1) Why is alcohol allowed to be imported into the resorts and why is it allowed to be sold in the hotels of the Island?
2) Why is alcohol allowed to be served by Maldivians? Why Maldivians are sent to foreign countries to be professional bartenders?
3) Why is Vulgar things shown in Public TV?
4) Why does Maldivians wear small dress and walk in the modern way?
5) Why is Christmas Day celebrated in every resort? Why is Valentine day Celebrated? Why is New year celebrated?
6) Why do you find dolls in the Shops and in kids hands? Aren’t those idols too?

These are just few factors I tried to find an answer, if they are so interested and hurt on religious basis. The funniest part about this episode I heard was that – the people of Baa Atoll who apparently build or reorganized this Idol for some huge money realized this only after they erected the idol and after they got the money and only after this came into the common man's knowledge. Sometimes I can understand that Islanders are not that intelligent but they are not this “Gaamaar” also.

If the above mentioned things are practiced in Maldives then I don’t find a reason why they should raise a voice and make a hue and cry over this. According to my understanding it was not to harm anybody feelings or to under estimate anyone’s view or country. My View of the whole thing after seeing the pictures was that, all they did was to go according to the theme of the Birthday party. Just like we (Maldivians) have Autumn, summer and some other themes for there parties, the big money people have high dreams of themes. I feel like it was more like made as in olden days, mystical tombs with dried flowers and some statue as you see in TOMB RAIDER.

Eventually, this birthday bash also attracted a lot of foreigners into our isles and even generated a lot of Per capita during the 5 days of Enjoyment.


*I’m not supporting this act, I’m just trying to be clear – You can’t accept to do something and tell someone else also not to do the same thing. Nor this mean that I'm not a religious person, I'm also very religious - But I dont want to percieve things like as how it is happening - You Let one sin take place whereas you discard the next sin with a lot of choas.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I totally agree with you, i dont see what the hype is about,people are on the look out for something to whine about always..