Syria Perfect Place for Environment Tourism

Researchers see that tourism and environment are two closely connected sectors positively and negatively, because no successful tourism is possible without healthy environment elements. These two associated concepts are presumed to get special attention by both the governments and societies of countries with diverse environment.

Syria, which enjoys wonderful diverse environment, has accorded special care to environment protection aiming to flourish environment-based tourism in order to back the national economy.

On the importance of environment tourism, Bushra al-Hasan, Director of Homs Environment Directorate told SANA Tourism and Society Bulletin that environment tourism is one of the most important kinds of tourist activities in Syria because of its economic benefits and its positive social effect on people who practice such kind of tourism.

“Preserving environment is a humanitarian responsibility that necessitates enhancing research relating to environment protection, particularly in Syria which has attractive environment tourism sites that are distinguished at the world level, al-Hasan said.

She added that environment tourism is a package of activities connected with the natural, cultural, and artistic legacy of a society. These activities aim at enhancing the responsibility of people towards the land and the environment, she pointed out, clarifying that natural and archeological reserves are the main factors of  environment tourism in Syria.

 According to a-Hasan, environment tourism strengthens love between people on the one hand and the land, the nature and the homeland on the other. It enhances people’s communication with their civilizations, and consolidates awareness about the importance of preserving environment. Therefore, the Syrian government’s concerned parties together with civil society associations should cooperate to further disseminate awareness about the importance of environment to people and to the coming generations.

Small enterprises like crafts industries in addition to organic agriculture projects can provide acceptable income and at the same time contribute to making  environment tourism a success, al-Hasan said.

She affirmed that excessive exploitation of natural resources and the irrational use of power in addition to the expansion of urban areas at the expense of green lands, besides immigration from rural areas to cities are most harmful activities to environment.

She concluded by saying any economic growth that ignores environment is illusive, because it is achieved on the expense of environment whose protection is the core of development.

Rawaa Ghanam