RAMALLAH, June 17, 2026 (WAFA) – Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek stressed the importance of government efforts to improve field conditions in the tourism and cultural heritage sectors in Palestine through field tours with donors and international partners, particularly in Salfit Governorate.
This came during a government field tour held on Wednesday in Salfit Governorate. A ministerial and diplomatic delegation, including Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek, Minister of Culture Imad Hamdan, UNESCO Representative in Palestine Karim Hendili, members of the European diplomatic corps, and Palestinian cultural and tourism associations, visited the governorate to brief international donors and development partners on its cultural, tourism, and economic potential in the fields of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism, and local economic development.
The ongoing efforts in heritage preservation, rural tourism development, strengthening the resilience of local communities, and encouraging private sector investment were reviewed, along with the challenges facing local communities and opportunities for future support and engagement by donor parties.
The tour began with a meeting with Salfit Governor Major General Mustafa Taqatqa, followed by a meeting with representatives of the local community, local and international partners, as well as official institutions and the private sector, to review the tourism sector in the governorate and explore investment opportunities.
Minister Al-Hayek said that these tours aim to brief international partners on the prospects of the tourism sector in Palestine and ways to develop it, in a manner that contributes to the protection of tourist and archaeological sites by strengthening the presence of citizens and visitors at these sites.
He added that efforts will be made to develop the tourism and antiquities sector in Palestine and attract tourists from various countries around the world, in order to strengthen the Palestinian narrative and highlight the richness of its cultural and civilizational heritage.
He stressed the need to implement projects aimed at achieving sustainable development in the governorate, to strengthen people’s presence on their land, create job opportunities, and enhance the local economy, noting that the governorate is rich in tourism, cultural, and economic assets that should be supported and promoted.
For his part, Salfit Governor stressed the importance of partnership between official institutions, the private sector, and international partners in developing the governorate, despite the challenges it faces due to Israeli occupation practices.
For his part, the Director of UNESCO’s Office in Palestine, Karim Hendili, highlighted the importance of strengthening joint cooperation with the State of Palestine in support of the antiquities and cultural heritage sectors.
Moreover, the ministerial delegation, local official bodies, international donors, and private sector representatives met with Salfit Governor Mustafa Taqatqa and Salfit Mayor Diaa Bani Nimrah at the governorate headquarters, where they were briefed on the political, economic, and development context, including challenges related to colonial settlement expansion, movement and access restrictions, and their impact on heritage and tourism development.
The governor also invited the delegation, investors, and development funds to explore available investment opportunities in the cultural and tourism sectors in the governorate, stressing readiness to cooperate with ministries and relevant authorities to provide the necessary facilitation and ensure a supportive environment for the success of these initiatives, noting that investment in Salfit Governorate is not merely economic, but also an investment in development, stability, and peace.
The Minister of Culture, Imad Hamdan, said that the tour aims to review the main cultural, political, and economic challenges facing Salfit Governorate, stressing that the Ministry of Culture is working to strengthen partnerships with international donors and institutions, and to provide them with a closer understanding of the governorate’s cultural, tourism, and economic assets and potential, as well as to support initiatives that enhance citizens’ resilience.
For his part, Salfit Mayor Diaa Bani Nimrah said they look forward to this visit serving as a practical milestone in strengthening cooperation and partnership, and in translating interest into concrete projects that contribute to the protection of cultural and historical heritage, the development of the tourism sector, and the strengthening of the local economy, in a way that positively impacts the lives and resilience of citizens.
T.R.
