Naif Arab University for Security Sciences Professor Mohammad Al-Thaqafi, said experts at the conference on the preservation of national heritage and tourism here, stressed the need for such a force.
"In the forum, experts spoke about the importance of security in the preservation of national heritage and the public awareness regarding the topic. Experts also reviewed the history of security in tourism in the Arab World," said Al-Thaqafi.
The forum was organized by the university and in cooperation with the Saudi Authority for National Heritage, Taif Municipality, the Arab Organization for Tourism and the Taif Chamber for Commerce and Industry.
“Attendees of the forum and speakers agreed on the need to cooperate in order to establish an authority of high security to protect national heritage from getting destroyed in catastrophes, wars and natural disasters,” said Al-Thaqafi.
He added experts also promoted the idea of writing a tourist's rights manual to educate tourists on their rights and responsibilities.
Civil Defense researcher Ali Al-Shihry said preserving national heritage is the responsibility of the government and the local citizens.
“I presented a paper on a case study of the people of Almaa Village. It is a historical village in Asir Province. In my model, the people of the village built a museum, formed a committee for the development and preservation of the historical landmarks and established a security company with the support of the public directorates there,” said Al-Shihry.
Moroccan Ministry of Culture representative Ahmad Umoos said the natural national heritages are a documentation of history.
“Take the drawings on rocks and such ancient relics. They are drawn by artists who were expressing emotions resulting from events that happened in history. The natural landmarks are the most destructible kind of landmarks,” Umoos said.
He added they could be destroyed by natural disasters and climate changes and by humans demolishing and vandalizing nature. "We need to raise awareness regarding natural national heritages and we need to come up with a strategy to preserve them," said Umoos.
Source: Saudi Gazette; Al Madina
Photo: The Qasr al-Bint tombs complex in the desert archaeological site of Madain Saleh, in Al Ula city, 1043 km northwest of the capital Riyadh. (File photo: AP)
