Damascus, April 22 (SANA) The Damascus Governorate, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, unveiled on Tuesday evening the “Qasioun Journey” project on Mount Qasioun, as a first step in efforts to advance sustainable development and expand economic activity.
The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Damascus Opera House attended by ministers, senior officials, and representatives from diplomatic, economic and investment sectors.
Speaking at the ceremony, Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlbi said the project integrates tourism with economic, social and cultural elements, reflecting what he described as an ambitious development vision that places the Syrian citizen at its core.
Idlbi described “Qasioun Journey” as the first Syrian project to combine tourism, economic activity, culture and social services, adding that it is expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate the local market and strengthen confidence in the investment environment.
He noted that the project will transform Mount Qasioun into an open platform for community participation after it had remained closed and underutilized for years during the deposed regime period.
Idlbi also pointed to presidential support for the initiative and efforts to involve Syrian expertise in its implementation, describing it as a national project.
The project includes natural, cultural, service and commercial features, such as free public seating areas, pedestrian paths, an innovation boulevard for young people and spaces for handicrafts, in addition to public services and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.
Idlbi said about 70 percent of the project will be free and open to the public, supported by new infrastructure for electricity and sanitation to ensure safety and sustainability.
The project is expected to generate more than 7,000 jobs and provide hundreds of small and medium investment opportunities, with most components scheduled to open by the end of summer 2026.
Tourism Minister Mazen al-Salhani said the project is “purely Syrian” and part of a broader plan to launch similar initiatives across other provinces, with the next phase expected in the Damascus countryside.
Culture Minister Mohammad Yassin Saleh said the project represents a practical model of government-driven development aimed at improving services and social conditions in the capital.
He said transforming Mount Qasioun into an open cultural and tourism space reflects a new approach to utilizing natural and historical sites for public benefit while supporting cultural identity and economic activity.
R A H
