Middle East tourism dispatches

From Amman, I headed to Damascus, Syria today by bus.

Having spent four days there, the reality of the tourist’s experience in Syria is far different than the news images portray. Interestingly enough, in Damascus, there are few places where I felt safer. People are warm, welcoming and constantly ask where I’m from. Everyone it seems wants to go to Miami. Even the Greater Miami CVB probably doesn’t realize what a potent brand they have worldwide.

Did you see me on TV at the demonstrations in Damascus? There I was with thousands, part of history in the making, at the plaza in front of the central bank with its huge poster of Bashir. Everyone was chanting God, Syria and Bashir. What a day!

If I were advising tourism officials on how to promote overseas tourism, what would I suggest? Enlist a charismatic, warm personality as a spokesperson, media train him/her (the Syrian equivalent of the former Queen Noor of Jordan or King Hussein), to present the warm and welcoming face of the Syrian people. Then, at the least, get him/her one-on-one interviews with key travel trade and consumer media, and on major network TV. Second, get positive information out there, especially by promoting visits of key opinion making media to experience the product. There’s a dearth of positive information out there at the moment, and that’s a major challenge.

Karen Weiner Escalera