Damer – OnePress
The Sudanese government has announced the return of more than 600 looted artefacts, in a move aimed at protecting the country’s national heritage and boosting efforts to preserve the country’s historic sites.
Minister of Culture, Information, Tourism and Antiquities Khaled Al-Iseer said during a workshop to develop tourism in the Nile state that the recovery operations were carried out in coordination with the security services and international organizations, calling on citizens who have historical or archaeological holdings to hand them over to the competent authorities.
The minister stressed that the authorities will require states and entities working in the mining sector to conduct prior archaeological surveys before allocating any sites for investment or mining, in order to protect historical sites and prevent damage or infringement.
Al-Issir pointed out that the workshop comes within the economic recovery and reconstruction plans, pointing out that Sudan has tourism and archaeological components that qualify it to be a regional and international destination, pointing out that the revenues of the tourism sector amounted to about $1.5 billion in 2018 before declining due to political unrest and the repercussions of the war.
He also announced plans to establish a regional center for the Public Authority for Radio and Television in the Nile State to support development and tourism activities, as well as arrangements to launch new tourism seasons in coordination with the security authorities, and programs to train and qualify national cadres working in the fields of tourism and hospitality.