Prof. Dr. Abu Osbaa Meets the Minister Mayaa and Discusses the Ways to Develop the Tourism Sector

2019-04-25

Prof Dr. Saleh Abu Osbaa, The President of the University, met Ms. Rula Mayaa, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, accompanied by a high delegation from the University, which included the two Vice Presidents for Academic, Administrative and Financial Affairs, a number of deans and the Director of the Media and Public Relations Department, congratulating her of the renewal of the assumption of the Ministry within the government of Dr. Mohammed Ashtaya, in Bethlehem, on Wednesday 24th of April 2019.

Prof. Dr. Abu Osbaa congratulated the Minister Mayaa, stressing the importance of intensifying the joint cooperation in order to serve the tourism sector in Palestine, referring to the future academic plan of the University by opening a new specialization for the tourism sector, hoping to serve the tourism development in Palestine.

For her part, the Minister welcomed the President of the University and his delegation, stressing the importance of building communication bridges between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Palestinian Universities, especially Al-Istiqlal University, to contribute in providing workers in the sectors of tourism and cultural heritage.

 Also, she reviewed the latest developments in the tourism and cultural heritage sectors as part of the promotion of direct networking between the Palestinian tourism sector and its counterparts in the world for attracting the tourists to visit Palestine as part of the Palestinian tourism programs and the use of Palestinian tourism facilities which contribute to increase the employment opportunities in the Palestinian tourism sector and raise the percentage of contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), besides intensifying the participation in the most important international tourism exhibitions with opening new tourist markets and targeting the new age groups to visit Palestine.

Finally, the two parties discussed the mechanism of signing a memorandum of understanding which will contribute in training the students of the Al-Istiqlal University in the field of archeological sites and tourism, in addition to hosting workshops on the tourism sector in general and Hisham Palace in particular.