Syrian Times 23 September, 2004 Summer is a tourist season in Syria. All the country’s governorates make preparations and ready themselves to welcome visitors and tourists from all over the world.
The Ministry of Tourism turns into a workshop determined to make the tourist season a success.
Organizing festivals like Al- Badia festival, Al- Mahabba, Bosra, Homs, Deir Ezzour, Palmyra and Damascus is one way to acquaint tourists with the attractions of Syria.
In fact, every festival in a Syria city is an attraction in itself.
Al- Badia festival, which takes place in Palmyra every year, includes a horse race, camel race, handicrafts show, costumes, artistic exhibitions, dance and song competitions and other cultural and artistic activities.
The archaeological city of Palmyra and its theatres, where Palmyrenes used to worship their gods and highlight their social rituals, continue to be tourist attractions today.
Fakhr Eddin Al- Maani citadel situated on a rocky hillock overlooking the city of Palmyra is one of the most beautiful sites in Palmyra.
The theatre, the monuments, the temple of Bel which dates back to the Hellenistic era, the wonderful decorations which cover the columns of the Straight Street, the archaeological sites round Palmyra like Al- Hir Palace built during the rule of the Umayyad Caliph Hisham Ibn Abdul Malek in 728 A.D., the museum and sulphur water springs take several days for a visitor to see. And no one should miss the opportunity to visit the unique archaeological site of Palmyra.