Japan has offered to support Palestine's economy by nurturing its tourism industry.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama made the pledge at a conference on religious tourism that opened in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Monday.
Government and private sector officials from 70 countries are taking part in the event, organized by the UN World Tourism Organization.
Nakayama said the region faces unprecedented difficulties due to the prolonged conflict between Israel and Palestine and the rise of extremist groups. He said economic growth offers a solution to such hardships, and promotion of tourism will help achieve such growth.
Nakayama said Japan will seek the cooperation of Israel, Jordan and Egypt to develop Palestine's tourism industry.
Palestine is home to ancient ruins and sites holy to Islam, Christianity and Judaism. But the number of foreign visitors has been badly affected by ongoing political turmoil.
On the sidelines of the conference, Palestinian authorities are staging their first tourism fair, featuring efforts to use the territory's traditions and culture to attract more travelers.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama made the pledge at a conference on religious tourism that opened in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Monday.
Government and private sector officials from 70 countries are taking part in the event, organized by the UN World Tourism Organization.
Nakayama said the region faces unprecedented difficulties due to the prolonged conflict between Israel and Palestine and the rise of extremist groups. He said economic growth offers a solution to such hardships, and promotion of tourism will help achieve such growth.
Nakayama said Japan will seek the cooperation of Israel, Jordan and Egypt to develop Palestine's tourism industry.
Palestine is home to ancient ruins and sites holy to Islam, Christianity and Judaism. But the number of foreign visitors has been badly affected by ongoing political turmoil.
On the sidelines of the conference, Palestinian authorities are staging their first tourism fair, featuring efforts to use the territory's traditions and culture to attract more travelers.
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