JICA Sustainable Tourism Development Seminar for the Middle East Region (Oct. 17 to Nov. 8, 2013)

The aim of this seminar is to invigorate the Middle East region through case studies from Japan that involve sustainable tourisms encompassing the local people. Continuing from the same themes from seminars conducted from fiscal 2008 to 2010, this one is implemented as part of a new three-year plan that began in fiscal 2011.
This seminar marked the plan’s final year. It was held Oct. 17 to Nov. 8, 2013, for two administration officials from Palestine and two from Iraq. The program has incorporated field trips to locations related to regional tourism promotion and opinion exchanges with a variety of people in the region, and it has created the opportunity for participants to receive feedback directly from tourists and residents of the region.

A region a participant is in charge of (a lake in central Iraq): Attempts are being made to promote eco-tourism involving four lakes.

The participating countries this fiscal year are Iraq and Palestine, both being places in the Middle East where humans have lived since ancient times. These countries are also different in many respects from Egypt or Turkey, both noted for having strong tourism appeal, even though all are in the Middle East. Even so, in this vast region we know as the Mideast, people have been leading vigorous and affluent lives since ancient times, when the region produced, among other things, the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.