Damascus, (SANA) - Minister of Tourism Saadallah Agha al-Qalaa said the investment opportunities currently available in Syria in the tourism sector have achieved economic and tourist feasibility.
He said the efforts put by the Ministry to provide sites conducive to tourist investment ensure transparency and speed in carrying out projects.
During his meeting on Wednesday with the members of the Syrian-Saudi Businessmen Council chaired by Ibrahim Al-Arnous on the Saudi side, Minister Agha al-Qalaa said the tourism executive program depends on striking a set of balances between incoming tourism, augmenting investment, ensuring quality, providing investment opportunities and qualifying cadres.
He said a study conducted by the Ministry, in light of last year's results, underscored the necessity of a prompt implementation of projects and establishing fresh tourist investments in Syria.
He indicated to an increase in the number of tourists from Gulf States, whose number hit 700 thousand last year, noting the efforts put in grand tourist development areas which place Syria on a level with other tourist countries.
Arnous said that the Council members are intent on broadening their business in light of the Syrian tourism development, voicing the Council's readiness to cooperate in promoting Syrian tourist investment in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
He described the delegation's visit to Syria as important to raise the value of joint investments and the trade exchange volume to the hoped-for level, underlining the businessmen's willingness to exchange trade and make the most of available opportunities.
Arnous noted the advantages added to the investment system, mainly in the tourist investment system in Syria, clarifying that the Council has taken practical steps to invigorate its work as invitation was extended to five Saudi banks to use joint investment opportunities and support tourist projects in Syria.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2011
