Thousands of commenters weighed in recently on a video wherein TikToker Sumari Barnes candidly shared why she’ll never revisit Egypt.
Sumari is a Washington, D.C.-based travel and lifestyle content creator. Her TikTok bio simply states that she loves “going places [and] doing things.” In her viral video on Egypt, now seen by over 3.3 million, she said she reached a breaking point during her time there when she started counting down toward the trip’s end, which is unlike her.
She explained that she enjoyed seeing Egypt’s landmarks but “traveling is so much more than [experiencing] cultural sites.” Basking in the country’s rich history just wasn’t enough to round out her visit as a good trip. She said, “The shopping, the food, the parties, and the people” were factors that “didn’t sell” Egypt as a place she’d like to revisit.
At the end of her video, Sumari added that she was “harassed and scammed into buying stuff at all times” while in Egypt.
In follow-up videos, the TikToker gave even more reasons why Egypt wasn’t a place she’d go to again. Her qualms included having her brother’s Apple Watch stolen, her luggage lost, and an annoying person guiding her experience.
How Did Social Media React?
Despite her qualms, Sumari expressed gratitude for being able to visit the North African country. She also shared her belief that Egypt is a place “everyone would enjoy going to once.”
Her post garnered thousands of comments. Many said they’d heard similar critiques of experiencing Egypt as a visitor. Others shared that they weren’t fond of their Egyptian travels either.
Several people were disappointed because Egypt is a place they’ve always wanted to visit. One person said, “This makes me so sad as I have always wanted to see Egypt since I was a little kid.” Meanwhile, another wrote, “This is so sad because this is my dream location to see.”
There were also people who defended Egypt by arguing that their personal experiences were totally different than Sumari’s. One TikTok user said, “The travel experience is different for everyone. Egypt is still one of my top five most favorite trips. I’d go back, but that’s MY trip experience.”
Another added, “I guess everyone’s experience is different. I went to Egpyt alone. The key is to get a tour guide and driver. That definitely makes a difference.”
Why Did Sumari Make A Video About Egypt?
Sumari’s initial Egpyt video was a direct response to another Black woman TikToker’s video explaining why Eygpt was the least favorite country they’ve traveled to. Tiana, @tianatravelss, cited feeling unsafe by men, pushy street vendors, and the sweltering heat. Moreover, she didn’t enjoy the food, said Egypt is “boring,” and found the country’s sightseeing spots and architecture “repetitive.”
Tiana also noted the heavy military presence where she traveled. Overall, she said Egypt wasn’t a place she’d go back to.
Sumari noted in her respective video that she agreed with Tiana’s reasons for not being interested in giving Egypt another try.
See Tiana’s post below.
