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| Ideal getaway or final destination? Syrian tourist board promotes coastal resort in wartime (VIDEO) | Ideal getaway or final destination? Syrian tourist board promotes coastal resort in wartime (VIDEO) |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The country is being torn apart by a bloody civil war and plundered by Islamic extremists, but the Syrian government wants tourists to see past this and galavant on its golden beaches. | The country is being torn apart by a bloody civil war and plundered by Islamic extremists, but the Syrian government wants tourists to see past this and galavant on its golden beaches. |
| The Syrian Ministry of Tourism is not about to let an armed conflict and the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians get in the way of promoting the nation as a must-see holiday destination. | |
| It released a video depicting a completely different side of the largely chaotic, violence-ridden country. | It released a video depicting a completely different side of the largely chaotic, violence-ridden country. |
| In the two-minute clip, the coastal town of Tartus is showcased as a place where sun worshipers can enjoy azure blue waters and sandy beaches. | In the two-minute clip, the coastal town of Tartus is showcased as a place where sun worshipers can enjoy azure blue waters and sandy beaches. |
| It even displays people jet-skiing with crowds filling up sun loungers in the background. | It even displays people jet-skiing with crowds filling up sun loungers in the background. |
| While Syria is without question a beautiful country, the ongoing battle between government forces, rebel groups and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 470,000 people. | While Syria is without question a beautiful country, the ongoing battle between government forces, rebel groups and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 470,000 people. |
| The UN’s Syria Regional Refugee Response team have calculated the official number of displaced people at 4.8 million, although it is likely to be higher. | The UN’s Syria Regional Refugee Response team have calculated the official number of displaced people at 4.8 million, although it is likely to be higher. |
| However, a statement on the ministry’s official Facebook claims that the country has experienced a 30 percent increase in tourism levels. | However, a statement on the ministry’s official Facebook claims that the country has experienced a 30 percent increase in tourism levels. |
| Tartus is located along the Mediterranean coast of Syria and is regarded to be an area controlled by the Assad government. | Tartus is located along the Mediterranean coast of Syria and is regarded to be an area controlled by the Assad government. |
| Earlier this year, the coastal city was struck by a series of suicide bombings claimed by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). | Earlier this year, the coastal city was struck by a series of suicide bombings claimed by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). |
| READ MORE: ‘They’re trying to blow up our unity’: RT talks to terror spree survivors in Tartus & Jableh | READ MORE: ‘They’re trying to blow up our unity’: RT talks to terror spree survivors in Tartus & Jableh |
| Some 67 kilometers north, in what was a co-ordinated attack, the city of Jableh was also hit by three car bombs. | Some 67 kilometers north, in what was a co-ordinated attack, the city of Jableh was also hit by three car bombs. |
| In total 140 people are reported to have died. | In total 140 people are reported to have died. |
| Other recommendations on the Syria Tourism website include Palmyra and Latakia. | Other recommendations on the Syria Tourism website include Palmyra and Latakia. |
| The UNESCO site of Palmyra is home to ancient ruins dating back to the first century. However, after falling under ISIS control for almost a year in 2015 many of the city’s archaeology sites were destroyed. | The UNESCO site of Palmyra is home to ancient ruins dating back to the first century. However, after falling under ISIS control for almost a year in 2015 many of the city’s archaeology sites were destroyed. |
| READ MORE: Syrian army retakes Palmyra from ISIS | READ MORE: Syrian army retakes Palmyra from ISIS |
| Meanwhile, the area surrounding the port city of Latakia has been the scene of violence as recently as August, when the Syrian Army clashed with Jaish Al-Fateh militant group. | Meanwhile, the area surrounding the port city of Latakia has been the scene of violence as recently as August, when the Syrian Army clashed with Jaish Al-Fateh militant group. |
| The country has lost in excess of $254 billion since 2010, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research. | The country has lost in excess of $254 billion since 2010, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research. |
| Syria is certainly not the first country to attempt to keep its tourism numbers up in times of turmoil. | Syria is certainly not the first country to attempt to keep its tourism numbers up in times of turmoil. |
| In the 1970s Northern Ireland’s tourism board had a similarly difficult job selling Belfast to potential holidaymakers, and even themselves, in the wake of IRA bombings. | In the 1970s Northern Ireland’s tourism board had a similarly difficult job selling Belfast to potential holidaymakers, and even themselves, in the wake of IRA bombings. |
| Northern Ireland tourism chief Robert Hall did his best though, describing Belfast as an “interesting place if you want some excitement.” | Northern Ireland tourism chief Robert Hall did his best though, describing Belfast as an “interesting place if you want some excitement.” |
| “We cannot guarantee the safety of anybody anymore than the Israeli tourist board can’t guarantee you won’t tread on a landmine,” Hall can also be heard to tell a reporter, in footage released by BBC Archive. | “We cannot guarantee the safety of anybody anymore than the Israeli tourist board can’t guarantee you won’t tread on a landmine,” Hall can also be heard to tell a reporter, in footage released by BBC Archive. |