JERICHO, February 18, 2014 (WAFA) - In a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) launched on Tuesday a new €5 million tourist development program at the historic site of Nabi Musa in Jericho governorate, according to an EU press release.
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and EU Representative John
Gatt-Rutter participated in the launch ceremony.
Through this three-year program, a guest house and tourist center will be established in Nabi Musa to accommodate tourist groups and visitors.
The program is fully funded by the EU and will be
implemented by UNDP in close cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, local
communities and other relevant stakeholders in the tourism sector.
“I am delighted to launch this new tourist development program at one of the great cultural and historical landmarks in Palestine, Maqam Nabi Musa,” said Gatt-Rutter. “The historical sites in Palestine are not only important for their cultural and heritage values but also for their potential to promote prosperity by boosting tourism and business opportunities.”
He said that this program “is part of the EU's continuing
commitment to preserving Palestinian cultural heritage and at the same time
exploiting in full - and for the benefit of all - its rich economic potential.”
The objective of the program is to bring together the Palestinian public and private sectors to exploit untapped potential and improve the management of cultural sites for touristic purposes.
This can considerably increase the number of tourists and
visitors, generate business opportunities in new markets (such as cultural,
eco-touristic and alternative tourism) and lead to economic growth.
“With more than 12,000 major archaeological sites and approximately 60,000 historical buildings, Palestinian cities and towns are rich in cultural heritage,' said UNDP’s Helen Clark.
“With appropriate investment, there are incredible
opportunities for increased tourism which would create the revenue and jobs
critical to sustainable development,” she added.
As part of its overall efforts to promote cultural tourism, the EU started work with UNDP in 2013 on a Palestinian cultural heritage preservation program in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The program activities include the rehabilitation of Hammam
Al Ayn and Hammam Al Shifa, Al Madrasa Al Kilaniyya and related housing units
in the Old City, the development of a business management plan and training on
the maintenance of rehabilitated sites.
In addition, the historic Khan al Wakale complex in Nablus will develop into a tourist hub through support for the municipality of Nablus and private companies to operate its museum, guest house and shopping area.
The rehabilitation of the Khan al Wakale site was completed in 2012 through another EU-funded project.
M.S.
