Minister of Tourism Meets Aleppo Investors

Minister of Tourism, Lamia Assi, stressed the important role of the tourist sector in enhancing economic, trade and industrial sectors, ensuring job opportunities and increasing national income, pointing out to the necessity of unifying all efforts to upgrade the level of tourism in Syria. Assi reviewed, during a meeting on Wednesday with heads and members of Northern Region's Chamber of Tourism and investors in Aleppo, the procedures and steps taken to support the tourism sector, particularly in regard to reducing consumption spending fee on hotels and rescheduling tourism loans, and outlining new methodical strategic plans for the establishment of several tourism projects for enhancing this sector, particularly in light of the economic and political conspiracies plotted against Syria which target its national and pan-Arab stances. The Minister pointed out that the next stage will witness several developments in the field of developing the tourism sector, through targeting new markets, setting up appropriate national programs and encouraging domestic tourism. Chairman of the Board of Northern Region's Chamber of Tourism, Peter Assad, stressed importance of providing financial support to investors and tourism facilities to continue their work and maintain the rights of the workers. For his part, Chairman of Aleppo Chamber of Commerce Hassan Zaido pointed out to important integration relation between the tourism and trade sectors and their impact on the other sectors. Several faltering tourism projects in the governorate and means of finding suitable solutions to implement and invest these projects in a short time were also discussed during the meeting. A Memo of Understanding was signed between Union of Syrian Chambers of Tourism, Northern Region's Chamber of Tourism and Aleppo Chambers of Commerce and Industry on coordination among the Boards of the Councils of the three Chambers in the field of holding common exhibition and the formation of a committee for preparing a comprehensive industrial, trade and tourist annual exhibition in Aleppo. The MoU seeks to care more about Aleppo International Airport and cancel all fees on the passing-by international companies in away to implement the open-air policy. It also provides for the necessity of common work to pay more interest in the domestic and religious tourism, trade exchanging with the neighboring countries and activating popular markets and exhibitions.