Preparations to Start Tourist Season in Lattakia Underway

LATTAKIA, (ST)- Preparations are underway to start this year’s tourist season in the Syrian province of Lattakia. Within this framework, the National Association for Tourism Development in Syria in cooperation with Lattakia’s municipality council have recently launched a voluntary youth initiative aiming to rehabilitate and restore some famous tourist and ancient places in the province.

Shedding light on this initiative Syriatimes e-newspaper interviewed Mrs. Sahar Hmaisheh , the executive director of the association. She said “Lattakia is a famous Syrian tourist destination that enjoys diverse landscape, unique historical heritage and key tourism elements.”

She underscored that the initiative aims at spreading and enhancing the culture of tourism due to its key role in supporting national economy. It also aims at raising awareness about the importance of natural and architectural heritage and at protecting tourism and archeological sites.

“The initiative includes a number of workshops that are due to be carried out in Lattakia city  and its countryside with the aim of activating  tourism sector, attracting the tourists’ attention to the most picturesque scenes in Lattakia countryside as well as providing job opportunities,” Mrs. Hmaisheh made it clear.

According to Mrs. Hmaisheh, the first workshop of the initiative targeted the rehabilitation and cleaning of main public squares and old places in Lattakia city. The workshop was carried out by the Association’s voluntary youth team which comprised graduates of the Fine Art Faculty.

She stressed that this initiative comes after the afforestation campaigns which the National Association for Tourism Development had carried out in Lattakia.

Mrs. Hmaisheh underscored the importance of such initiatives in encouraging citizens to effectively participate in the maintenance of public utilities .

Interviewed by : Rawaa Ghanam