Bethlehem Together – Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek stressed the importance of working with international partners from various global organizations to support programs and projects related to preserving archaeological sites and turning them into tourist destinations.
Minister Hayek’s speech came during his meeting with Ms. Veronique Sophia, Director of the Office of the French Development Agency (ADF) in Palestine, where the meeting took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the city of Bethlehem and in the presence of Mr. Jihad Yassin, Director General of Museums and Excavations at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and Mr. Hani Balata, Director of Cultural Heritage Projects at the Agency. French for development
Al-Hayek spoke about the crisis that the tourism sector in Palestine is going through as a result of the aggression against the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Ministry is working on a set of plans and programs that will be implemented imme
diately after the end of the aggression to ensure the return of tourism activity to Palestine to its previous state.
Minister Hayek stressed the importance of the joint bilateral relations between the Palestinian and French sides, especially in the field of tourism and the field of cultural heritage, as this relationship was translated on the ground through joint projects that have been implemented and are being implemented, such as the St. Hilarion (Tel Umm Amer) project in the Gaza Strip.
Al-Hayek stressed the Ministry’s endeavor to develop archaeological sites in Palestine and transform them into tourist destinations, as these sites constitute an important part of our Palestinian national heritage, and by restoring these sites we preserve national identity, in addition to the contribution of these projects in transforming archaeological sites into tourist destinations, which increases the chances of attracting groups. Tourism from various countries of the world to Palestine
In turn, Ms. Veronique Sophia
, Director of the French Development Agency (ADF) office in Palestine, stressed the importance of the relationship between the French and Palestinian sides, especially in the field of preserving cultural heritage, with the necessity of developing the horizons of joint work to include new projects that contribute to transforming archaeological sites into tourist destinations.
During the meeting, the latest developments on the St. Hilarion (Tel Umm Amer) project were discussed, in addition to discussing the management and preservation plan for this important archaeological site. Ways to develop joint work horizons to include new projects were discussed, in addition to discussing overcoming obstacles to the projects being implemented jointly on the ground. at present
Source: Maan News Agency