Ali Abu Dashish and Family Barred from Foua Park over "Summer Bermuda Shorts

Archaeologist and media professional Dr. Ali Abu Dashish, Director of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage and Head of the Tourism Department at the news portal, has sparked a major administrative and tourism debate. This follows a discriminatory incident where he was barred from entering "Family Park" in his hometown of Foua, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. Abu Dashish, who was accompanied by his family, was denied entry on the grounds of wearing "long, modest summer Bermuda shorts," a situation he described as "the assassination of tourism awareness at the gates of a historic city."

Abu Dashish explained that during his recent visit to Foua—the third most important city for Islamic antiquities in Egypt—he went with his family to spend some leisure time at the public park, only to be surprised by staff members refusing them entry.

In an effort to resolve the situation cordially, he presented his professional credentials as an archaeological official and media figure who understands the law and tourism protocols. However, the park director responded with complete obstinacy and disregard, declaring that the ban was based on "official directives issued by the city mayor!"

Abu Dashish emphasized that public parks are owned by the people under the constitution and are established for recreation. Drawing from his extensive international travels, he noted that he has never encountered a single country that bars a visitor from entering a public park due to standard summer attire. He added that even the most prestigious clubs and recreational facilities in the capital, Cairo, do not impose such foreign restrictions, stressing that parks are meant for leisure and are not official entities authorized to impose tutelage over citizens' personal freedoms and choices.

Abu Dashish warned of the negative repercussions such arbitrary decisions have on the reputation of Egyptian tourism. He questioned what the expected outcome would be if this crude treatment were repeated with foreign tourist delegations or Egyptian expatriates visiting their homeland for vacation. He also raised concerns about how forcing foreign visitors at the gates of recreational parks to adhere to clothing unsuited to the summer climate would tarnish the mental image of Egyptian leisure destinations.

Dr. Ali Abu Dashish concluded by placing this incident and its clear administrative violations before officials at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Local Development, and the Governor of Kafr El-Sheikh. He asserted that leaving tourism management and the image of a historic city of Foua’s stature at the mercy of mindsets lacking the most basic rules of tourism awareness poses a direct threat to the state's efforts to promote tourism. He called for an urgent investigation and accountability for those responsible to restore the prestige of the law and the dignity of citizens.