Idlib Launches Handicrafts Festival for World Tourism Day
The Idlib Tourism Directorate opened the Handicrafts Festival at the city museum on Sunday as part of celebrations marking World Tourism Day. Held under the theme “Idlib: A Promising Destination,” the event aims to revive tangible and intangible heritage, support traditional crafts that were at risk of disappearing, and showcase the province’s distinct cultural identity.
The festival is scheduled to run for three days and features a variety of exhibits, including natural leather goods, pottery, traditional cuisine, and various handmade heritage items. According to festival organizers, approximately 20 traditional crafts are represented at the event, which seeks to connect the region’s popular heritage with the current tourism landscape.
Nayef Qaddour, Director of Tourism in Idlib, stated that this is the first time the festival has been held since the liberation of the area. He emphasized that the directorate is currently planning to establish a permanent market for handicrafts along one of the province’s tourism routes to ensure ongoing support for local artisans and provide a consistent platform to market their products. Qaddour noted that the exhibition serves as a significant opportunity to introduce the Syrian public to the province’s artisanal heritage and encouraged the community to visit and explore the displayed crafts.
The festival also highlights the participation of diverse social groups. The Dar Al-Aila Orphanage showcased handmade concrete and wax products created by youths who received professional training in these trades over the past year. Additionally, the Al-Basira Center for the Blind participated with products reflecting the creativity of its members, including straw and bamboo weaving, as well as artistic paintings. These contributions aim to enhance the presence of these individuals in society and highlight their craftsmanship skills.
World Tourism Day, observed annually on September 27, is being celebrated in Idlib this year as part of official efforts to revitalize the tourism sector in a region that boasts hundreds of archaeological and tourism sites. These include the area known as the “Forgotten Cities,” as well as the Idlib Museum, which houses thousands of historical artifacts documenting the diverse civilizations of the region.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
