Syria remains unsafe country as tourist destination – The Guardian
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Recently, much has been said that the situation in Syria is returning little by little to the pre-2011 status. The Syrian government- pushed by investment ends-tries to show tourism is at its best since the war erupted in country in 2011. However, the reality on the ground may reveal something else.
In a recently published report by The Guardian, the British paper, says whoever says Syria is safe is “a liar,” adding that Syria’s tourist drive is at odds with human rights record.
According to the paper, the image foreign visitors try to depict that Syria is a “healthy country and a sound destination” for tourism is “untrue.”
“Affordable, friendly and ready for tourists – this is the message behind a new drive to promote Syria as a holiday destination, despite a recent human rights report determining the Assad government was responsible for crimes against humanity and the Foreign Office warning against all travel to the country,” the paper noted.
Recently, the Syrian Ministry of Tourism made a lot of bids seeking to revive “the country’s once thriving tourism industry before the devastating civil war killed thousands, leveled cities and drove 13 million people from their homes,” The Guardian said.
The Syrian Ministry had announced 25 investment projects in the country.
The report noted to the idea that the image visitors (vloggers- knowingly or unknowingly) give to the situation in Syria is an unsound one.
Following the lift of Covid- 19 pandemic restrictions, a window was opened for foreigners to pay visits to Syria. However, “Critics say vloggers are being cynically used by the Assad regime,” according to The Gardian.
The ministry is said to have invited the Egyptian singer Hani Shaker to reflect the country was regaining its pre-2011 image, however, reaction by Syrians to Shaker’s invitation were short of expectation. The situation is far from being a typical one for both Syrians and foreigners (tourists) alike.
As many efforts were exerted to refloat Syrian president by allies and some regional countries, human rights violations continue across the country.