Documentary tourist trip to the historic city of Palmyra

 With the participation of about 180 volunteers, the Syrian Association for Exploration and Documentation, “I am  Syrian”, organized a documentary tourist trip to the historic city of Palmyra to record notes on the affected archaeological areas and the requirements for improving the service  so as to be accomplished in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

The Palmyra National Museum, the archaeological area, which is next to the oasis of Palms and Olives and the historical spring of Afqa, were the most important areas covered during the trip.

Tourism director of Homs, Ahmed Akash, gave a detailed explanation of the city’s history, its tourism and cultural importance. He  condemned the  terrorist attacks committed by the “ISIS” terrorist organization with the aim of obliterating and  destroying the archaeological monuments  , pointing out that the Ministry of Tourism and Homs Governorate is seeking to revitalize the internal and external tourist movement to the city of Palmyra which is registered  on the World Heritage List.

 The Canadian independent journalist Eva Bartlert, who accompanied the visitors, stated that this is her third visit to the city’s monuments, this city which is considered one of the greatest historical cities in the world, considering that the systematic destruction  done by the terrorist organization “ISIS” to this cultural heritage in this city is a disgrace to all humanity, as the aim of sabotaging those historical edifices is to offend the history and culture of mankind, calling on the  international concerned cultural organizations  to contribute to the restoration of these immortal monuments.

SANA quoted head of the Syrian Society for Exploration and Documentation, Khaled Nuwailati, who said that the purpose of this trip is to document the reality of the ancient city, its oasis and its ancient heritage and to convey the true image of returning the city of Palmyra to the forefront of the Syrian tourism.

It is noteworthy that the Syrian Society for Exploration and Documentation was established in 2008. It is an association with a scout character that aims to explore and document Syrian nature.

Amal Farhat