Various tourist, cultural, artistic, sport and folkloric activities to be held within “Al-Qal’a and Al-Wadi” Festival

Activities of “Al-Qal’a and Al-Wadi” (The Citadel and The Valley) Festival kicked off Friday evening in Al-Qlattiya village in the western countryside  of Syria’s Homs.

The 2-week festival was organized by the Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with Homs Governorate and it will present various tourist, cultural, artistic, sport and folkloric activities.

The activities were opened by playing folkloric songs with modern musical methods by “Takkat” Band preceded by an exhibition for the heritage of Al-Qlattiya village, including the old tools and the traditional food of which the villages in Homs western countryside are famous for.

Minister of Tourism Mohammad Radwan Martini said during the opening ceremony that “the festival is held every year in this wonderful valley whose villages, land and citadel tell stories about Syria’s history, the cradle of civilization and the country on which many aggressors and invaders have conspired, yet its people remained steadfast and continued to spread the culture of loving life, amity and strong will.

He added that the festival coincides with an active tourist season which has witnessed notable increase in the number of tourists from abroad and from inside the country compared to past years, particularly after the opening of some border crossings and air lines.

He pointed out that Syria contains many historical sites and enchanting natural places and the festival is an important opportunity to consolidate the country’s tourist, cultural and artistic activities, noting the development of the tourism investment sector.

Director of Homs Tourism Malak Abbas told SANA that the festival sheds light on the valley area and its tourist, archeological, religious and historical importance as well as on its charming nature which makes it a key tourist destination.

Hamda Mustafa