After more than 10 years without any tourists, Libya has welcomed back its first international arrivals.
Following years of social and political instability that meant Libya was a no-go zone for tourism, the North African country has seen its first visitors to the country in more than a decade.
The 12 tourists are said to have visited an oasis town in the desert where they reportedly travelled in six separate cars.
“They are breaking the barrier of fear among the many admirers of the Libyan desert, and now thank God, things are going as well as we hoped, thanks to the supporters and the good people, as well as the state, which deployed all its resources from the tourism and interior ministries, as you can see the escorts that we have, there is tight protection,” commented Ali al-Kouba, a Libyan tour guide, who lauded Libya’s government intended to attract more tourists to the country.
Difficult past, bright future
After ruling Libya with an iron fist, Muammar Gaddafi was assassinated on 20 October 2011. While this is said to have freed the country from its totalitarian rule, it left a “power vacuum” that became difficult for other administrations to fill. The North African Arab nation is now looking forward to hosting elections next month – a process that is being overseen by the United Nations. It is hoped that the elections will restore peace and stability to one of the African continent’s richest countries.
Watch the below video clip via CGTN Africa of the first tourists in Libya in 10 years, as they visit Ghadames Oasis:
