Hani Al-Haik from Solomon Pools Launches World Tourism Day Activities Under the Slogan 'How Beautiful is Our Country'

Bethlehem - Afaq News - Today, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Mr. Hani Al-Hayek, launched the activities of World Tourism Day under the slogan "How Beautiful is Our Country," during an event held at the archaeological site of Solomon's Pools in the village of Artas in Bethlehem Governorate, in the presence of Bethlehem Governor Mr. Mohammed Taha, the Mayor of Artas Mr. Jamil Rabaiya, the Chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr. Samir Hizboun, the Deputy Mayor of Bethlehem Mr. Jreis Qara'a, the Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem Mr. Anton Asfar, representatives of the Palestinian private tourism sector associations, and a large number of official, national, and local figures, along with a group of journalists and influencers.

The activities of World Tourism Day, which will last for two days, include organizing tours and visits for our people from Palestinians in the interior to several cities and governorates in the West Bank, aimed at introducing the tourist, archaeological, historical, and religious sites, and enhancing communication and connection among the Palestinian people.

Al-Hayek emphasized the importance of strengthening the connection between the people of the West Bank and Palestinians in the interior, despite the measures imposed by the occupation aimed at separating the people. He stressed the ministry's determination to continue and intensify visits and tourist tours for our people from Palestinians in the interior to various Palestinian governorates, which contributes to enhancing communication and introducing our national history and cultural heritage, as well as the importance of Palestinian archaeological and tourist sites, in addition to the importance of marketing Palestinian cities and operating tourist facilities, which contributes to the operation and development of economic and tourism facilities, especially hotels.

Al-Hayek pointed out that intensifying visits to archaeological and tourist sites contributes to enhancing their presence, protecting them, and preserving them, in addition to stimulating tourism movement and supporting local communities. He noted the importance of choosing the site of Solomon's Pools to launch the activities of World Tourism Day, due to the historical and cultural value of the site, and to draw attention to the dangers it faces due to the policies of occupation and settlement.

For his part, Bethlehem Governor Mr. Mohammed Taha invited our people from Palestinians in the interior to visit Bethlehem Governorate and learn about its rich tourist, archaeological, historical, and religious sites, emphasizing the importance of these visits in stimulating tourism movement and supporting the tourism sector in the governorate, in light of the significant challenges facing the sector due to the halt of tourism movement.

The events include, over the course of two days, tours of several tourist, archaeological, historical, and religious sites in the Bethlehem Governorate, in addition to visiting a number of archaeological, historical, and tourist sites in the Hebron Governorate, with the participation of a number of journalists and influencers, to introduce the tourism and heritage components that the two governorates are rich in, with the aim of enhancing domestic tourism, supporting the tourism sector, and promoting Palestinian archaeological and tourist sites.