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"Dark tourism" - Walla! Tourism

2019-12-10T22:02:30.653Z


The Dark Tourism trend, which mainly deals with combat and tragedy areas, does not miss Syria, and more and more companies are offering travel packages to the bleeding country. So how much does it cost ...


"Dark tourism"

Photo: ShutterStock, Shutterstock

  • Tourism
  • World Travel

The Dark Tourism trend, which mainly deals with combat and tragedy areas, does not miss Syria, and more and more companies are offering travel packages to the bleeding country. So how much does it cost and what's not included in the package (and rightly so)?

Walla system! Tourism

11/12/2019

Recently, Lonely Planet stated that Syria is the most dangerous place in the world. "In the simplest way: you can't go there," the guide said. "And if you can drive there - don't do it."

But trips to places where killings and tragedies have become increasingly popular. This trend even received the name "Dark Tourism".

The photographer who managed to document Syria's spectacular sites before it was destroyed

The old city was damaged during the war. Tadmor, Syria (Photo: ShutterStock)

Tadmor Syria (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

The tour of Syria gives unwanted legitimacy to unwanted government. Marge Square, Damascus (Photo: AP)

Civilians in Marja Square, Damascus, Syria, February 27, 2016 (Photo: AP)

Healing from the situation through tourism

And while for many Syrians, this kind of tourism brings real assistance, as well as a sense of normalcy, to others - this gives unwanted legitimacy to unwanted governance.

For security reasons, almost all governments around the world have issued a travel warning to Syria, in which the civil war is now entering its ninth year. As you know, those who paid the worst price for this war were the people of the state.

Nevertheless, although the memory of the car bombs and the bombs from the air is still fresh in the memory - there are those who are looking for healing from the situation, through the encouragement of tourism.

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Places where killings and tragedies have become increasingly popular. Damascus, Syria (Photo: ShutterStock)

Damascus Syria (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

Trips to war sites have become popular. Roman theater in Tadmor (Photo: ShutterStock)

Ancient Roman theater in Tadmor Syria (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

Yes to Tadmor and Damascus, not to Idlib

Against this backdrop, it turns out that as of November, two Russian tourism companies have started offering customers travel packages to Syria. Despite the travel warnings, these companies offer routes passing through seven cities in the country, including Damascus, Aleppo and the city of Palmyra, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ancient Tadmor, known as the "bride of the desert," was founded in Neve Desert and was a famous station for the trading convoys that passed through ancient roads, including the Silk Road. There are quite a few impressive remains from ancient times, especially from the Roman period. One of these companies, Miracle, is issuing its expected trip to Syria on March 14, 2020.

Naturally, these trips would not command active combat zones such as the Idlib environment in the northwest.
The price of this tour package is $ 1,950. The price does not include the price of the flight, visa payment and life insurance. The Tourism-Review website notes that after these travel packages were published, it was decided by the Russian Tourism Ministry to issue a statement urging these companies to cease. "We advise Russian tourists to avoid visiting until normalization in the country," the statement said.

Russian companies are not the only ones offering such packages. For example, the Chinese company Young Pioneer Tours offers travel packages to Northern Aleppo and the surrounding area. Aleppo suffered severe damage during the Civil War, and the destruction is still evident in it. This package costs $ 1,650 (excluding flights, visas and insurance). And although these trips are joined by government escorts, they are not considered safe enough.

From the symbols of Damascus and Syria as a whole. The Umayyad mosque in the old city of Damascus (Photo: ShutterStock)

The Umayyad mosque in the ancient city of Damascus Syria (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

One of the destinations in Syria. Aleppo Fortress (Photo: ShutterStock)

Aleppo Syria Syria (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

"Potential of tens of thousands of tourists"

The BBC reports that in 2019, 334 Russian tourists visited Syria. Almost three times the number in 2018. Russian eastern Gregory Leontiev estimates that within two or three years, Syria's tourism potential will reach tens of thousands of visitors. According to him, as of now, most tourists are tourist bloggers or sworn travelers.

As mentioned, some claim that tourism in Syria brings benefits to the country. For example, tourism experts for whom this is a small but significant step back to routine, especially in Damascus. "I would be lying if I said that Syria is 100 percent safe, but the situation is much better today than before," says M. Alhousi, a guide from Damascus. "The freeways are safer and more spectacular, and our history, culture and food are still here."

On the other hand, there are other opinions. "What these tour companies do has only one purpose: to legitimize the government, normalize it. This is to show the world that Syria is safe, and that the war is over," says Bakri al-Obeid, who owned a small tourism company from Damascus, until the Civil War began in 2011 "To me, it's depressing and painful to see tourists visiting your country when your home is boycotted by the government, and you can't come back to it."

As mentioned, "dark tourism" - trips to places related to killing, destruction and human tragedy - has become popular in recent years. More and more people are going on vacations to war zones. This phenomenon is also encouraged by the world of social networking. However, most experts in the field recommend caution when dealing with these trends.

Announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Remains of Tadmor City (Photo: Shutterstock)

Tadmor Syria (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

"Our history, culture and food are still here." The Orontes River in a hot city in Syria (Photo: Shutterstock)

Orontes river in hot Syria city (Photo: Shutterstock, ShutterStock)

Source: walla

All life articles on 2019-12-10

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