Tourism

Iraq's ancient city of Ur: source of law, site of wonder

Tourists are slowly beginning to return to the ancient Sumerian city of Ur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, raising hopes among some locals.

Iraq

Egypt's Red Sea Mountain Trail creates jobs for local Bedouin community

The success of the Sinai Trail, a popular route for hikers, has spurred the development of another, more ambitious project along the Red Sea.

Egypt

History graduate shows West Bank off the beaten track

Mohammed Abu Hashhash's trekking guide of 144 routes aims to combine information on natural and cultural landscape with local stories.

Palestine

Is Egyptian parliament encouraging alcohol consumption?

The Egyptian parliament's approval to lift the prohibition of the sale of alcohol in the law on shops has stirred a wide controversy in a country where Sharia is the source of legislation.

Egypt

Turkish town gets a splash of color with local black rose

Turkey's southeastern town of Halfeti claims to be the home of a rare black rose grown only on the riverbeds of the Euphrates River.

Turkey

Saudi Arabia seeks to entice visitors with pre-Islamic sites

Following last year's $20 billion French-Saudi deal to accelerate al-Ula’s development, there are more international archaeologists on the ground than ever before.

Saudi Arabia

Can Egypt’s new airport revive country’s ailing tourism sector?

Egypt opened a new international airport in Giza governorate as part of the government’s efforts to boost the tourism sector that suffered a major setback following the January 25 Revolution.

Egypt

When will Egypt open its Grand Museum?

The Grand Egyptian Museum, expected to be the world's largest archaeological museum, will have its great opening early 2020.

Egypt

Can St. John’s bread feed St. Paul’s hometown?

Tourism managers from Tarsus, known for being St. Paul’s hometown, wonder whether they can boost tourism further through gastronomic delights — including St. John’s bread, also known as carob.

Turkey

What brings the end of tulip era in Turkey's tourism campaign?

Turkey has used a tulip logo in its national branding for nearly two decades, but it signaled that a new symbol may be needed next year.

Turkey

Egypt’s pottery village explores with art in yearly festival

Egypt’s celebrated pottery center, the village of Tunis, holds an annual art festival that now features crafts from calligraphy to wood carving.

Egypt

Ecotourism coming to Egypt's Western Desert

The Egyptian government has launched an initiative to restore the ancient village of Shali, in the middle of the Sawi oasis, and promote it through ecotourism.

Egypt