Trump immigration law and future of tourism, higher education in Asia

America's recent presidential executive order to ban entry from seven Muslim countries including; Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, has been temporarily cancelled by the Seattle Washington Federal Judge 'James Robert'.

The appeal court rejected the case on February and announced that the documentation provided is not sufficient in this regard.

Trump has sharply criticized the appeal court. Addressing the judges who confirmed the appeal verdict, he said in a tweet: See you in court.

Following President Donald Trump's controversial new travel restrictions, companies and officials in Asia told Reuters that they would target greater tourism and education ties with Muslims worried about the curbs.

In Muslim-majority Malaysia, the group CEO of Asia's largest budget airline, AirAsia (AIRA.KL), suggested countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could cash in.

'With the world now getting more isolationist, it's time for ASEAN to start making it easier for tourists to come,' Tony Fernandes said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Malaysia is a popular destination for tourists from the Middle East, with nearly 200,000 arriving in 2016 from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Qatar.

The country is also a key destination for medical tourism and Halal tourism, with food and other products largely Halal-certified.

In neighboring Thailand, tourism officials said the US ban could lift visitor numbers.

'The Middle East is a big market for us, especially in the medical tourism sector. They may choose to visit Thailand more and this may also boost our sector,' Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters.

Trump has presented his ban as a way to protect the United States from Islamist militants, but it has been condemned by a growing list of foreign leaders and drawn protests by tens of thousands in American cities.

With concerns about safety and security building, some Asians are reconsidering U.S. travel plans and seeking alternatives, even though their countries are not subject to the restrictions.

'When you want to travel, especially for leisure, then you want peace of mind,' said Alicia Seah, director of public relations and communications at Singapore's Dynasty Travel.

Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from attacks, but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Keysar Trad, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said Trump's travel restrictions were not only hurting innocent people but were 'bringing great damage to his own economy and to the standings of Americans internationally.

**US new law and higher education
After many Muslim students suffered from this Act, other students due to unpredictable circumstances in upcoming in America, are looking for other destinations in the world, with the terms 'safe' to further education.

According to Q. S. system, East Asian universities in Muslim countries like Malaysia and Indonesia in 2016, were one of the main purposes to study for international students.

World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Based on QS report, universities in Malaysia, Hungary, Taiwan, Germany, the Chinese Taipei, Austria, Mexico and France had the most foreign students last year (2016).

It is predicted that the US law may effectively improve the rankings. The reaction of most international institutions and higher education institutions to Trump’s new law against immigrants also probably indicate suspicion of foreign students to study in America and to find new secure destinations in the world especially in Asia.

Ajay Mital, director at International Placewell Consultants in New Delhi, which places Indian students in universities abroad, said Germany and Singapore had stepped up efforts to recruit students.

Prospective students were worried that, even if they were able to go to the United States for education, they would not get a job at the end of their studies with the tighter work visa rules that the new administration has said it may bring in.

'Mittal' stressed that now many students are looking for other purposes to continue their higher education.

Written & Translated by Maryam Shafiei

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