The General Authority to Oversee Industry and Tourism Sectors in Homs

Homs province is one of the largest provinces of the country containing a large number of tourist attractions and industrial facilities that located throughout the province in addition to its industrial city, Heisya.

Tourism flourished in the different areas of Homs beginning from the desert where the ancient city of Palmyra up to the mountains, the Krak des Chevaliers and the old town center. So there is a special body in the executive office to oversee the industrial plants and tourist attractions and to follow-up work in these two important sectors.

Talking about the work of this office, the ST. met Mr. Hamdo Al-Jurani, director of the Executive Office for tourism and industry sectors in Homs city Council.

 He said: “Our office is interested in supervising and monitoring Tourism Directorate, Industry Directorate and Heisya industry Directorate. In addition to the several factories located in the city including ; the Grape Industry Plant, Fertilizer Factory, the Sugar Factory, Homs Dairy Company, Al-Waleed Scutcher and the Laundries, as well as the Industrial Bank, the Artists Association, Hotel Institute and Hotel School.

Through periodical visits to these industrial plants, our bureau inspects the work process of these plants and deal with the difficulties and obstacles hindering the production process. These visits are made in cooperation with a joint committee representing Homs municipal, Tourism Department, the City Council, Directorate of Supply and the Veterinarians Association.

We submit our reports on the facilities’ work and the necessary proposals to the Governor.

Concerning the various activities of the bureau, Mr. Al-Jurani, said: In the industrial area, some 41 investors with an investment volume of SP 1672 million have been allocated in Heisya Industrial City. We have also restarted Al-Waleed Plant in order to secure the ginned cotton and provide seeds for oils plants.

The bureau also inspects the commercial and industrial facilities that have been deteriorated by the terrorists’ acts and estimate the damages to those facilities reporting the necessary proposals to the competent authorities.

In the field of tourism, the bureau has sponsored the “Valley Festival” that has been recently held in Al-Nadarah Valley area. The festival, included a number of interesting artistic and cultural events as well as tourist trips to the different regions of the charming valley and to the Krak des Chevaliers. Several sport competitions, artistic exhibitions, cultural lectures, film screenings for children and several artistic concerts have been also held during the 4-day festival.

An amazing Carnival showing the folk heritage of the Valley and clean-up campaigns in the forests of chestnut in Dahr Al-Qseir area as well as a forestation campaign in the lands that have been burned by the militants in the valley, were among the most important activities that have been held on the sideline of the Valley Festival.

Amal Farhat – Homs Correspondent