Study visit links up with old friends at CCHP in Bethlehem
London Met's MA in international tourism management & development took their students on their annual study visit. This year the destination was Palestine, where we linked up with long standing partners in Bethlehem at the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation (CCHP).
The students were introduced to the Palestinian toursim and antiquities minster, Dr Khouloud Daibes, who met and briefed us on the latest steps taken to invigorate this important sector. We were then given a privilaged position to investigate and contribute towards several tourism related projects that CCHP are currently actively involved in.
We also took the opportunity to observe some of the more familiar tourism and pilgrimage sites around the 'Holy Land' including Jerusalem, Hebron and Jericho. In addition the group visited other lesser known sites in order to take a snap shot of some the complex issues that contribute towards the shaping of tourism development in the region.
All the local organisation of our trip was impeccably arranged by Rami Kassis at ATG in Beit Sahour - Many thanks for a terrific job Rami!