Minister of Tourism Lamia Assi said cultural tourism takes on great importance in reflecting Syria's cultural heritage and richness.

Touring a number of ancient Damascene houses under restoration by Agha Khan Development Network, Assi said tapping cultural tourism is important as it restores ancient Damascene houses so as to become viable, thus preserving them from external factors.

Minister Assi said the Tourism Ministry is headed to offer better accommodations for tourists at archeological sites.

Representative of Agha Khan Development Network in Syria Mohammad Mofdi Seifo said Old Damascus hides rich ruins that merit care, adding that the Network entered old Damascus in a response to an initiative by the Syrian government as a specialized body to take care of ancient ruins there.

''By mutual agreement with the Syrian government, we took three houses in Damascus, each with a special characteristic, which we intend to put into tourist cultural service as an important project,'' said Seifo.

The sites are predicted to be put into service by 2013 after finishing restoration