Daraa, Sept. 14 (SANA)Tourism is gaining momentum in the ancient city ofBosra al-Shamin southern Syria, as growing numbers of local and foreign visitors return and restoration efforts advance at some of its most prominentarchaeological sites.

The city, inDaraacountryside, welcomed about 10,831 tourists in the first months of the second half of 2026, up from 4,530 during the same period last year, according to Alaa al-Saleh, director of the Bosra al-Sham Antiquities Department.

The increase has been accompanied by a revival in domestic tourism, including school and family trips, as well as increased economic activity linked to traditional crafts and services for visitors.

Bosra al-Sham City Council head Abdullah al-Miqdad told SANA that tourism had rebounded after years of stagnation, citing improved security and stability as well as efforts to upgrade infrastructure around the city’s historic landmarks.

Those efforts include the installation of more than 250 solar-powered streetlights, road rehabilitation and maintenance, cleaning campaigns, tree planting and improvements to public parks. New recreational facilities, including Trajana Park, have also opened to serve visitors.

Al-Miqdad said several archaeological sites still bear the scars of destruction from the years of the deposed regime, underscoring the need for continued efforts to preserve the city’s heritage.

Al-Saleh said the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, working with international organizations, had carried out extensive restoration work at key landmarks, including theRoman Theatre, the Citadel and Abu al-Fida School.

Further rehabilitation projects are planned according to priority, with restored sites to be incorporated into visitor routes, he said, adding that a unified council overseeing archaeological sites and tourism could help coordinate preservation and development efforts.

A European tourist group leader described Bosra al-Sham as an “open-air museum” and called for greater efforts to preserve and rehabilitate its archaeological landmarks.

Heritage specialist and gallery owner Muwaffaq al-Dous also called for closer cooperation with tourism professionals and faster implementation of rehabilitation projects. He said greater media attention should be given to lesser-known landmarks, including the Old Market, the Arch of Triumph and Bab al-Hawa.

Located about 40 kilometers from Daraa and 140 kilometers from Damascus, Bosra al-Sham was historically an important religious and commercial center on ancient trade routes. The city has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1980 and is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic monuments.