Dream Villages Project launched in Lattakia

“Lattakia’s rich history and culture, its natural diversity as well as its historic and archaeological attractions have  made the province an important tourist destination” Eng. Firas   Wardi Head of the Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department at Lattakia’s Tourism Directorate said in an interview with the Syriatimes e-newspaper..

He pointed out that the Lattakia’s tourism directorate in cooperation with the ministry of tourism and a number of concerned civil society associations exert major efforts to revitalize the province’s tourism and encourage national investment in this sector as Lattakia has many charming landscapes and a unique cultural heritage.

“Within this framework Lattakia’s tourism directorate has launched the dream villages project in a number of areas in Lattakia countryside including “Mnezleh”, “Bait Ana”, “ Dair Mama”, “Bait Sbeh”, “ Bsheli in addition to other villages in Jableh and Qurdaha”, Eng. Wardi made it clear.

He pointed out that the old rural houses in the mentioned villages have attractive tourism and environmental elements as well as distinguished sites, indicating that visitors from other Syrian provinces or tourists from Arab and foreign countries can be hosted in these houses and enjoy the experience of carrying out a number of activities including exploring, hiking , camping, biking,  walks, traditional entertainment evenings and sampling traditional and heritage products.

He underscored that this project, which is the first of its kind in Syria, is   an integrated, developmental and ambitious pioneering project which aims at shedding light on tourism villages to reactivate all kinds of tourism, attracting expatriates to carry out investment projects and providing job opportunities.

“I believe that people living in villages are capable of making a difference in the society, provided they are given the right infrastructure and support” Eng. Wardi expressed. “The project is a chance to enhance the  economic capabilities of the villagers,  reactivate social relationships among residents of the rural old houses and the tourists in addition to be briefed on the tourists’ heritage and traditional customs” he underscored.

Eng. Wardi went on to say “Lattakia’s tourism directorate has adopted an ambitious plan to establish the first national geological park in Syria in “Jobet Rband” which is located on the highest mountains in “Qurdaha” of Lattakia’s countryside”.

He stressed that “Jobet Rband” is considered a distinguished, environmental and geological example as it is an attractive natural site that meets the requirements of sport, cultural, adventure and environmental tourism”.

Interviewed by: Rawaa Ghanam

Photos by: Rawaa Ghanam