Syrian 'Game of Thrones' tourism video promotes regime-held Aleppo
Syrian 'Game of Thrones' tourism video promotes regime-held Aleppo
Syria's Tourism Ministry baffled everyone with an advert enticing visitors to the war-torn country's "beautiful" beaches. A new video promotes barrel-bombed Aleppo, set to theme of the HBO hit show.
1 min read
01 Oct, 2016
Barrel-bombed, deadly battleground? Syria's Ministry of Tourism has a different view [Facebook]
When the Syrian regime released a promotional video enticing tourists to its "beautiful" beaches, US comedian Trevor Noah joked the only thing harder than being a Syrian civilian was being Syria's Minister of Tourism.
But this minister is under no duty-bound pressure to rejuvenate Syria's tourism industry. Nor does he fear for his job if he doesn't fulfil this year's visitor quota.
No. It seems his bonus depends on the maximum outrage his government can achieve.
In another example of the regime's stone-cold indifference to the devastating and relentless loss of life in the war-torn country, the Ministry of Tourism has released a video promoting Aleppo.
Set to the Game of Thrones theme music, the one minute-long clip boasts lush parks and greenery, clear blue skies, and towering minarets.
Quite a contrast from the barrel-bombed buildings, babies buried under rubble and bloodied and dazed civilians lying on hospital floors of rebel-held eastern Aleppo.
The video was posted on the ministry's Facebook page - which is also promoting a festival in the war-ravaged city this weekend - alongside the hashtag #Aleppo_Will_Of_Life.
Last week, a bizarre tweet from Syria's official news agency showed people partying at an outdoor dance music event, seeming to claim that life continues as normal in Aleppo.
But this minister is under no duty-bound pressure to rejuvenate Syria's tourism industry. Nor does he fear for his job if he doesn't fulfil this year's visitor quota.
No. It seems his bonus depends on the maximum outrage his government can achieve.
In another example of the regime's stone-cold indifference to the devastating and relentless loss of life in the war-torn country, the Ministry of Tourism has released a video promoting Aleppo.
| Facebook Post |
Set to the Game of Thrones theme music, the one minute-long clip boasts lush parks and greenery, clear blue skies, and towering minarets.
Quite a contrast from the barrel-bombed buildings, babies buried under rubble and bloodied and dazed civilians lying on hospital floors of rebel-held eastern Aleppo.
The video was posted on the ministry's Facebook page - which is also promoting a festival in the war-ravaged city this weekend - alongside the hashtag #Aleppo_Will_Of_Life.
Last week, a bizarre tweet from Syria's official news agency showed people partying at an outdoor dance music event, seeming to claim that life continues as normal in Aleppo.
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