Noam Raydan is a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.
Articles & Testimony
What civil war? The regime's Tourism Ministry thinks you'll enjoy these new beachside cafes.
Bashar al-Assad's regime has one-upped even the satirists at the Onion: His government has decided to launch a new push for tourism. In early May, the regime unveiled proposals to lure visitors to the Assad heartland of Lattakia, as well as 24 small and medium-sized tourism projects such as a 42-room hotel in Hama. In a country where three UNESCO World Heritage Sites -- Palmyra, Krac des Chevaliers and the Aleppo Citadel -- have suffered damage while being used for military purposes, tourism may be a tough sell. But Assad has other reasons for it beyond just keeping up appearances.
