Syria’s Ministry of Tourism released a new promotional video this week, depicting the war-ravaged country as a coastal paradise.
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The video, published on the ministry’s Facebook page Monday, shows a jet ski zipping along the Syrian coast as dozens of people enjoy the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
The footage was reportedly filmed at Tartus, Syria’s second port city and home to a Russian naval base, and ends with the slogan: “Syria – Always Beautiful”.
Neither is their any mention of Islamic State, the murderous jihadist caliphate that now controls large swathes of the country under brutal Sharia law.
While Syria’s tourist board might be putting a positive spin on things, the videos serve as a depressing reminder of what a handsome country Syria was before the war.
In 2013, 465,000 tourists visited the country, down from the eight million before fighting started in 2011, he said.
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The main groups are president Bashar Assad’s government forces, anti-government rebels such as the Free Syrian Army, and of course Isis. It was known for its rich links to ancient civilizations such as the cultural center of Palmyra, an archaeological site that was ravaged by Islamic State fighters when it was captured by the militant group a year ago.
