Holiday season is kicking off for many of us, who are excitedly planning our Summer vacations. For many of us, choosing our ideal destination includes looking for places our faith is understood and accepted.
Thanks to a great article in IslamOnline.net, I discovered that Brazil is becoming a popular holiday spot for Muslim tourists from around the globe who want to enjoy a great vacation while sticking to their religious traditions.
A Warm Welcome, Brazilian Style
Brazil is the world’s top tourist destination for Muslims, (after Great Britain). In fact, many Brazilians show interest in discovering more about Islam when they meet Muslim tourists.
“Once my food got cold because the waiter didn’t stop asking me about my country and religion,” Egyptian tourist Abdel-Rahman Yehia, 51, told IslamOnline.net.
Sajida Obeid, 58, was fascinated by the open, friendly atmosphere she encountered in cosmopolitan Brazil.
“I came with my sons after hearing so many good information from Brazil and would chose this country to live if I had to move out from Lebanon” – she said.
“We are happy to open our doors to any nationality, religion and ethnicity, this is the face of Brazil,” said Roberto Almeida, media officer for the Ministry of Tourism and Information.
“The vast numbers of Arabs in this country, who have made good achievements and just sent good news to their relatives, have made it suitable for Arabic people to come and visit.”
Embracing the Muslim and Arabic Cultures
Besides face-to-face conversations with Muslim visitors, Arabic traditions, music and drama are also very popular among Brazilians. A soap opera called O Clone, which revealed Arab Muslim life, traditions, customs and history to Brazilian viewers proved a great hit. According to a TV vox pop, Brazilians’ interest in Arab and Muslim culture increased by 60 percent after the soap opera was aired.
Brazil’s Arab communities in Brazil are also going strong and hold monthly meetings to educate the Brazilian public about their faith, traditions and culture.
“Many of our guests are Brazilians but also we have a great number of Arabic Muslim tourists that come over to check out our work and give their opinions to help us improve our job,” said Claudio Muhammad Baker, spokesperson for Muslim Association of Santos.
Brazil’s Thriving Muslim Community
The Islamic Brazilian Federation estimates there are 1.5 million Muslims in Brazil, the majority of whom are descended from Syrian, Palestinians and Lebanese immigrants. Iraqis also arrived in Brazil since the 2003 US-led invasion.
Sao Paulo, the Brazilian capital is home to ten mosques, including the Mosque Brazil, which was the first mosque built in Latin America, in 1929.
Most Muslims live in the states of Parana, Goias, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, but there are also significant communities in Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul.
Copacabana anyone? I’m already packing my sunscreen!
