Chongqing University

Graduate Program
In Architecture

U r b a n T h e o r y
Consider improving
The Syrian coast line

Master Student: Sarah Omran Student number: l1800199

 Abstract
While Syrian Coastal Region has good potentials to compete in the tourism industry (culture,
climate, history, sea, opportunities for investment because of cheap labor).

Syrian Coastal Region could be “a popular tourist destination” with its identity on the
Mediterranean , while Italy is successful in regional tourism and has a spatial identity.
The study will try to learn from the experience of Italy to improve the Syrian coast.
Table of contents

• 1- abstract
• 2-background studies
• 3-aim and objectives
• 4-research questions and problems
• 5-research methodology
• 6-
Overview
Tourism has become a major sector of economic activity worldwide, covering a broad range of
enterprises, areas and stakeholders. It is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world: 4, 4
per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) flows directly from tourism, which employs over 235 million
people (WTTC). A substantial portion of GDP and employment, especially in developing countries, is
related to tourism. It is also one of the most ramified sectors of the global economy, covering a broad
range of enterprises, sectors and stakeholders. All the indications are that tourism will continue growing
in the years to come. With this growth, a diversification of tourism products and destinations is taking
place, with increased demand for nature-related tourism. Tourists themselves are becoming increasingly
sophisticated in their demands, seeking more than pure leisure and relaxation.
Given these considerations, tourism is in a strategic position to make a positive contribution to the
regional development of local areas, both as an effective conservation tool, and as a successful
community development model. At the sure time, however, fit also presents challenges. In fact, if the
tourist industry is not subjected to clear rules and standards, fit can have negative impacts on local
regional development . In order to achieve positive outcomes fit is necessary to set up policies that
consider all the implications both negative and positive that tourism has on the economic, social, cultural
and environmental side, seizing the opportunities that tourism can bring, and minimizing its potentially
adverse effects.
Research Problem
While Syrian Coastal Region has good potentials to compete in the tourism industry (culture,
climate, history, sea, opportunities for investment because of cheap labor and land compared to
China) still regional tourism is not recognized in Syrian Coastal Region, by which Coastal Region
is not the most popular touristic destination. The problem can be summed, “Syrian Coastal Region
is not a successful regional tourism destination considering all the potentials and assets it has”.

Hypothesis:
Syrian Coastal Region could be “a popular tourist destination” with its identity on the
Mediterranean , while Italy is successful in regional tourism and has a spatial identity.
The study will try to learn from the experience of Italy to improve the Syrian coast
Research aims & objectives
Why and how regional tourism in Itay Province is a successful experience?
Secondary questions:
2- Which parts of Italian regional tourism have been the most important for this success
3- Have Mediterranean elements played a big role in this success of Regional Tourism

Research questions
Main question
1- Why and how regional tourism in Itay Province is a successful experience?
Secondary questions:
2- Which parts of Italian regional tourism have been the most important for this success
3- Have Mediterranean elements played a big role in this success of Regional Tourism

Methodology
Choose Arwad island (Syrian island on the Mediterranean Sea) and find a comparison
with an island on Italian coast by studying the history of each and analyzing the
accessibilities and elements of Mediterranean style.
Syrian Coastal Region:
• Proximity to Europe and Arab countries
• Strategic location on the Mediterranean
• Connection between 3 different continents Africa, Asia
and Europe

Mediterranean Basin Location of Syria

Syria Syria coast line

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Syrian Coastal Region
includes tow governorates in total 4200km²: Lattakia area / 2,300
km². Tartous area / 1,900 km².

Tartous Lattakia

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Overview on Tartous
Tartous is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Tartous is the second largest port city in Syria (after Latakia),
and the largest city in Tartous Governorate. The population is 797,000 (2011 census). In the summer it is a vacation
spot for many Syrians. Many vacation compounds are located in the region with some top quality resorts.
Tartous Governorate
Tartous Governorate is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering
Lebanon to the south, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Latakia Governorate to the north, and Homs and Hama
Governorates to the east. Sources list the area as 1,890 km² or 1,892 km².The governorate has a population of 785,000
(2010 estimate). The capital is Tartous.

Political map of Syria where Tartous is highlighted Tartous Province Map

History:
The History of Tartous goes back to the 2nd millennium BC when it was founded as a Phoenician colony of Aradus.
The colony was known as Antaradus (from Greek "Anti-Arados → Antarados", Anti-Aradus, meaning "The town
facing Arwad"). Not much remains of the Phoenician Antaradus, the mainland settlement that was linked to the more
important and larger settlements of Aradus, off the shore of Tartous, and the nearby site of Amrit.
Greco-Roman and Byzantine:
The city was called Antaradus in classical Latin. The city was favored by Emperor Constantine for its devotion to the
cult of the Virgin Mary. The first chapel to be dedicated to the Virgin is said to have been built here in the 3rd century.
Islamic:
Muslim armies conquered Tartous under the leadership of Ayyan bin al-Samet al-Ansary in 636.
Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk and Ottoman rule:
The Crusaders called the city Antartus, and also Tortosa. First captured by Raymond of Saint-Gilles, it was left in
1105 to his son Alfonso Jordan and was known as Tortosa. In 1123 the Crusaders built the semi-fortified Cathedral of
Our Lady of Tortosa over a Byzantine church that was popular with pilgrims. Tortosa was the last outpost of the
Templars on the Syrian mainland, after which they retreated to a garrison on the nearby island of Arwad, which they
kept for another decade The Cathedral itself was used as a mosque after the Muslim reconquest of the city, then as a
barracks by the Ottomans.
French Mandate period:
It was renovated under the French and is now the city museum, containing antiquities recovered from Amrit and
many other sites in the region. Nur ad-Din Zangi retrieved Tartous from the Crusaders for a brief time before he lost
it again.
Economy:
Tartous is an important trade center in Syria and has one of the two main ports of the country on the Mediterranean.
The city port is experiencing major expansion as a lot of Iraqi imports come through the port of Tartous to aid
reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Tartous is a popular destination for tourists. The city offers good sandy beaches and several resorts. The city
enjoyed major investments in the last few years, the largest being Antaradus and Porto waterfront development.
Geography:
The city lies on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea bordered by the Mountains to the east. Arwad, the
only inhabited island on the Syrian coast, is located a few kilometers off the shore of Tartous.It is almost exactly
like a typical beach town in Greece.
Tartous occupies most of smooth areas, surrounded to the east by mountains composed mainly of limestone and,
in certain places around the town of Souda, basalt.
Tartous Port
The Port of Tartous lies on Syria's western shores on the Mediterranean Sea about 80 kilometers by land south of
the Port of Lattakia. The Port of Tartous is one of Syria’s two major ports.
arwad island
Arwad is a phoenician Island lies on the eastern coast of the
Mediterranean Sea, the only inhabited island in Syria. The town
of Arwad takes up the entire island. It is located 3 kilometres
from Tartus, Syria's second largest port. Today, it is mainly a
fishing town.
covering sand rocks known as the "Ramle" stone, and drawing
these rocks when they meet the sea, balconies and coastal
groves. The island is surrounded by a small group of islands
called "Arwad's daughters."

The island is characterized by its corridors and winding streets,

Crusader castle, Islamic stronghold, and the tower of Ayyubid,
and the remains of its huge wall and its complex housing.

Arwad has long been known for shipbuilding

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 arwad island current situation

1-The main market is the island where shops,

vendors of vegetables and fruit and three
bakeries. There are a number of restaurants and
cafes on the east and south sides of the island.

2- The houses on the rest of the island are spread

out in close proximity, narrow alleys for pedestrian
traffic, and there are no cars or vehicles on the
island.

3- The land is paved with the most cement and

the least stone. Most of the roles are two-tier and
as the population grows, the number of classes
increases to four.

4- The building material was sandstone and

became reinforced concrete, and the roofs of
houses level with a slight slope

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