www.tehrantimes.com The Iranian Ambassador to Syria Mohammad-Hassan Akhtari here called for better facilities and services for Iranian pilgrims and tourists in Syrian holy sites.
During a meeting with Syrian Minister of Tourism Sadallah Agha al-Qala, the Iranian ambassador to Syria called for the establishment of more infrastructure and services for tourists particularly in the district of Zeinabiyeh, site of the holy shrine of Imam Hossein's sister, in the outskirts of Damascus.
The Syrian minister, in the meeting, promised his country would provide better facilities and services to Iranian pilgrims in Syrian cities.
He urged promotion of the two countries' tourism potentials by placing advertisements or holding tourism exhibitions in their respective capitals to attract tourists unfamiliar with their cultural and religious attractions.
The city of Halab (Aleppo) in northern Syria is considered the trade and cultural hub of Syria. The city, along with Iran's Isfahan, were among those nominated to become the cultural capital of the World of Islam for 2006.
Some close friends of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) were buried in the city of Raqeh, 600 kilometers northeast of Damascus.
The city of Busra, located in southern Damascus, is home to historical sites dating back to the Byzantine period.
Some 700,000 pilgrims from different countries such as Iran, the UAE, India, and Pakistan as well as from southeastern Asia and Europe visit Syria every year. Of this number, over 300,000 are Iranians. |