Kuwait's Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi and Sons Co. (Al-Kharafi Group) has said that it has started construction works at the $217m Kiwan tourist project, downtown Damascus. The project consists of a hotel complex on a total area of 60 thousand square meters, which will include a five-star hotel with 500 rooms and suites, international business facilities, entertainment, medical, sporting and shopping centres, and a park, director of Damascus tourism department Faisal Najati has said.