On August 6, the Syrian Ministry of Tourism announced a call for investment proposals for 20 tourism sites across Syria.
Proposals must be submitted to the Ministry’s office within the specified deadlines—some have already expired, while others are approaching their final submission dates.
The sites range from coastal beaches and hotels to the Damascus Tourism Directorate building, which is offered for tourism investment “with a heritage character that reflects its architectural style.”
Following the fall of the Assad regime, Syria witnessed a wave of foreign arrivals, including media delegations and adventurous tourists, despite ongoing travel warnings from Western governments.
After the formation of the new government and the partial lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, investment delegations from Gulf countries and other Arab states began exploring opportunities in a country that had been closed off for the past 14 years. Billions of dollars in investments were announced, mostly in infrastructure and energy sectors.
On July 29, the Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the company “Le Parc Concorde” to develop and rehabilitate several tourism facilities. On August 26, it signed another agreement with the Emirati company “Lux” and the Arab States Broadcasting Union, which owns the hotel, to rehabilitate the Carlton Damascus Hotel and launch design and execution works.
Among the proposed projects are sites 1, 3, and 4 on the southern corniche of the coastal city of Latakia, and the Prince Hotel in Aleppo. The Ministry invited interested investors to contact: 📧 investors@mots.gov.sy
🏛️ Tourism in Syria in 2010: A Peak Year
📊 Key Performance Indicators:
Tourist arrivals: Over 8.5 million visitors in 2010—a 40% increase from 2009.
Revenue: Tourism generated approximately $8.4 billion, accounting for 14% of GDP.
Employment: The sector employed around 11% of the national workforce.
🌍 Active Tourism Segments:
Cultural tourism: Visits to ancient sites like Palmyra, Krak des Chevaliers, Umayyad Mosque, and Aleppo Citadel.
Religious tourism: Especially from Iran and Iraq to Shiite shrines in Damascus.
Eco and summer tourism: In Wadi Barada, Rabwah, Latakia, and Tartus.
Medical tourism: In natural resorts and wellness centers.
🌐 Top Visitor Nationalities:
Europeans: Over 584,000 European tourists in the first half of 2010.
Turks: Highest growth rate (175%) after visa exemption.
Iranians: 141% growth due to religious tourism.
🏨 Infrastructure Highlights:
Dozens of boutique hotels in Damascus and Aleppo.
Chalets and tourist camps along the Syrian coast.
Upgraded airports and hospitality centers.


Comments
Post a Comment