The Middle East needs Vegas

If on thinks about it Mecca can be just like Las Vegas. First they are both in the middle of desert and both depend on tourists for their income. According to Google 3.8 million visitors went to Mecca last year, while over 40 million went to Las Vegas last year according to an inside source (7 Million came to Honolulu). I don’t know if this 3.8 million figure is correct though because there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and each is supposed to visit Mecca once a year (this means that there are only 380 million Muslims that visit Mecca every 100 years). Meanwhile in 100 years there will be 4 billion visitors to Vegas. Mecca should take some lessons from Vegas to pack all the pilgrims in, they should all get a chance.

First Mecca needs better crowd control 345 people trampled this year in one incident, and 241 trampled last year. Yes, Vegas have had a handful of incidents but comparatively Vegas kills less people per year than Mecca. Second, the gambling issue. Islam prohibits gambling but there are certainly games that they play, and shopping, and why not a Cirque Du Soleil show and Mamma Mia! show? From everything that I know Vegas is selling an experience, and Mecca is a step up on this because they are selling a religious experience. Finally Mecca needs a catchy slogan, though “What goes on in Mecca stays in Mecca,” doesn’t have a good ring to it. How about “Mecca, plenty of rocks to throw here,” or “Muhammad partied here.” Still gambling will attract visitors from other faiths which is something to think about.

I’m talking to you Saudi Arabia: there is a responsibility to provide all followers of Islam 1) a good time 2) enough capacity for all Muslims to make a visit to your wonderful Oasis in the desert.