The domestic tourism, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, constitutes quarter of the tourist movement in Syria as the coastal region acquires 80 percent. Aiming at encouraging domestic tourism, the Ministry also kicked off Syria Summer Festival in Damascus, Aleppo and Lattakia governorates, in addition to activating the religious, cultural, medical, coastal tourism and adopting multimedia marketing policies.

A number of owners of tourist and commercial facilities announced unprecedented reductions for staying in resorts and hotels. Tartous and Lattakia hotels kicked off one of the remarkable initiatives to encourage domestic tourism through the announcement of a reduction from 40 to 60 percent.

The Syrian Airlines also announced weekly flights on Lattakia-Cairo, Lattakia-Aleppo, Cairo-Aleppo, Kuwait-Deir Ezzor and Stockholm- Qamishli, in addition to attractive offers on tickets.

Image via jpnews-sy.com

Bloomberg reports that Syria is encouraging private industry and foreign investment in its state-dominated economy to provide long-term financing for development and economic reforms amid dwindling oil revenue. The government wants to attract as much as $55 billion in foreign direct investment over the next five years, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah Dardari said Sept. 24.

Some 287 new touristic projects, including 57 hotels and 230 restaurants, worth a total of $401 million opened last year, Agha al-Qalaa said. Another 85 hotels will open this year, he said. Foreign direct investments in Syria reached $2.5 billion in 2010, exceeding expectations, Dardari said Jan. 12.

According to Bloomberg, the country received 4.6 million Arabs, 1.5 million Syrians living abroad and another 2.3 million people from other countries, he said. Tourism investments increased 9 percent in 2010, Agha al-Qalaa said.

Syria’s economy will grow at an average of 5.5 percent to 6 percent over the next five years, according to Dardari. The International Monetary Fund has urged Syria to accelerate its transition to a more open, market-based economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

Source: bloomberg.com/etn

Image via syriatourism.webs.com

MA’LULU, Syria (eTN) – Ma’lula, this charming famous village in Syria, is some 56 kilometers, less than one hour’s drive, north from Damascus on the main road between Damascus and Aleppo, and is situated at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters, inhabited by 5,000 people, both Christians and Muslims.

There are two monasteries here: Saint Sergius and Saint Taqla’s. The inhabitants still speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ. Two neighboring villages, Jaba’din and Naj’a, also speak the same language. The word Ma’lula means “entrance” in Aramaic.

My trip to Ma’lula came after attending Arabian Tourism Borsa in Damascus during November 2010. The guide, as well as guests from Indonesia and other countries, made our trip a nice one. We were able to speak with many citizens in Maaloula, and they are really nice people who believe that tourists and guests visiting them are brothers and friends.

Here in Maa’lula, you can see the people satisfied with the nature and with the treasures that their region have; here, you can feel the history as you listen to the Aramic language.

Ma’lula is a major tourist attraction in Syria. Hundreds of tourists were enjoying the area when we visited the village. All services can be found in Ma’lula from big restaurants to shops and good transportation.

Mosques peacefully exist alongside churches, where you can hear the sound from both at the same time, making for a very special and unique experience.

I believe Ma’lula is a must-visit place in Syria. It is a place whose images can explain the beauty this village more than words ever could.

The ancient Greeks were probably the first to call the Aramean population Syrians; the name “Aram” was first mentioned around 2300 BC. Many Aramaic tribes developed into special ethnic groups and gained names of their own such as the Canaanites in Palestine, the Palmyreans in Syria, the Nabataens in Jordan, the Chaldeans in Iraq, and so forth. The Aramaic language in its various dialects has been spoken for thousands of years by the people living between the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. It was the mother tongue of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible was originally written in old Aramaic.

The most important monument in the town is the Convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya. From a distance it looks like a fortress, perched on a rocky hillock in the town center. The convent that hosts a school, monastery for nuns, and an orphanage is a famous pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims alike. The object of adoration is an icon of the Virgin Mary supposedly painted by Saint Luke located in a small dark shrine-like room. The main chapel has an antique wooden iconostasis and numerous gold-painted icons. The convent was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the sixth century.

Among the houses of the town there are several small churches, monasteries, and shrines dedicated to various saints. Many of them are very old but have undergone comprehensive restoration. Around the town there are two religious sites worth visiting: the Monastery of Mar Thomas and the Cherubim Convent, situated strategically on the highest point of the local mountain range.

Moderrn Aramaic (Syriac) is still widely spoken in the town. The caves around the town suggest that it was a pre-historic settlement and one of the earliest centers of Christianity. The most important tourist attraction is the defile of Saint Thecla. According to legend, Thecla was the daughter of a prince who converted to Christianity and ran to hide in Maaloula. Her father sent soldiers to execute her for her conversion to the new faith. Finding herself trapped against the cliffs, she prayed to God for help. Her prayers were answered and a narrow path (the defile, or gap between two mountains which we see today) opened in the rocky mountains, allowing her to escape to a little cave up in the cliffs. The Convent of Mar Thecla that hosts the holy shrine of Saint Thecla is a very popular pilgrimage site for Christians from all over the Arab Middle East. The Convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya and the Convent of Saint Thecla belong to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Damascus, one of the oldest Christian communities worldwide (established in the fourth century AD).

Maaloula is famous for the traditional and authentic architecture in the old part of the town. Many old buildings, especially the churches and shrines, have been extensively restored. Both towns are highly frequented by local, Arab, and international tourists. Both are included in package tours and are a must for individual tourists. The rich history and the religious exclusiveness, as well as the gorgeous geographic location and the hospitality of the people, make the two towns one of the most unforgettable sites in Syria. They are evidence of the religious and cultural richness of modern Syrian society and are an irreplaceable landmark of human civilization.

Out of the total number, 2,445,365 were Arabs, 853,417 foreigners and 704,909 expatriates .

The statistics released by the ministry today showed that the increase in tourists number reached 288,059 in comparison to the same period last year. The rate of increase is 8% according to the records of Department of Immigration and Passports in the Ministry of Interior .

Ministry of Tourism added that the number of projects which have been under service during the last eight months is 124 tourist facilities i.e. the rate of the projects’ growth is 121%, which reflects the accelerating of tourist investments incomes due to efforts exerted to stimulate completion of tourist projects as soon as possible.

DAMASCUS – Iranian pilgrims pray beside Arabs at the 8th-century Umayyad Mosque, one of Islam’s grandest sites. Down a nearby alley, European tourists watch restoration work at an Ottoman-era palace being converted into a hotel.

“I’ve not seen such contrast between image and the reality,” said German tourist Anna Kopola, looking at Syrian art on display in a gallery in the capital, Damascus. “Syria is portrayed as a centre of terrorism in the West but it’s peaceful and modern.”

While tourists have long travelled to see Egypt’s pyramids, tense ties with the West made Syria a no-go zone for decades.

Few have heard of the magnificent ruins at Dura Europos, a Greco-Roman city dubbed the Pompeii of the desert, or Krak des Chevaliers, among the world’s greatest Crusader castles.

But a rapprochement with the West — Syria this month invited U.S. President Barack Obama to Damascus for talks — and the gradual liberalisation of an economy that long shunned foreign input are helping Syria shed its pariah state image.

“Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit last year was a boost,” Antoine Mamarbachi, a tour operator said of the French president.

“Syria is no longer a persona non grata.”

Tourist numbers rose 15 percent last year and Tourism Minister Saadallah Agha al-Qalaa expects 40,000 new hotel beds to become available in the next three years, up from 48,000 now.

Demand has grown so fast, he said, that Syrian tourism may escape the impact of the global downturn that has hit the sector worldwide. Tourism already accounts for 13 percent of Syria’s gross domestic product and will only become more important as the Arab country’s dwindling oil production falls further.

Syria has so far tended to attract visitors from other parts of the Middle East, who are less perturbed by its image and more interested in its beach resorts. Two-thirds of visitors last year were Arab, but promotional campaigns by the state and tour operators over the last year have targeted high-end Europeans.

As the East-West crossroads of the ancient world, Syria has been a trade hub for centuries, attracting European adventurers from Lawrence of Arabia to Freya Stark.

Dura Europos, the ruined walled city above the banks of the Euphrates, produced early examples of Judaic and Christian art. The Umayyad dynasty made Damascus the capital of a Muslim empire that stretched to Spain.

Legend has it that two heads are buried beneath the Ummayad Mosque — those of John the Baptist and Imam Hussein, an early Islamic figure whose killing in 680 AD cemented Shi’ite-Sunni splits.

But Syria’s modern history has been dominated by its struggle with Israel and Soviet-style policies since the Baath Party’s 1963 coup that reduced it to an economic backwater.

The United States imposed sanctions on Syria in 2004 and the government faces two United Nations investigations, although tensions have eased in recent months and Washington said in June it would appoint an ambassador to Damascus after a four-year hiatus.

“The business environment in Syria is still poorer than its neighbours, but this is a virgin market and the fact that so many investors are coming shows that the risk is worth taking,” said Jihad Yazigi, editor of the Syria Report online newsletter.

Only in the past decade has Syria eased restrictions on foreign exchange and banking and allowed companies to transfer profits abroad. But it remains among the world’s hardest places to do business, according to World Economic Forum study.

Courts lack safeguards against political interference and the workforce lacks language skills and training. Yet the risks have not put off investors from the oil-exporting Gulf.

Qatari Diyar, a real estate company owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, is building a $350 million resort on the Mediterranean coast. Kuwait’s Kharafi group is building a 361-room hotel in Damascus. Global hotel brands including Movenpick, Kempinski and Holiday Inn also plan developments.

“Syria is a bargain, although it needs to develop its infrastructure,” said Kuwaiti businessman Abdul Hameed Dashti.

SWEEP OF HISTORY

In the covered souqs of Old Damascus, Western tourists now shop for Syrian kilims and amble from the tomb of the Mamluk ruler Baibars to courtyard houses-turned-boutique hotels.

Gone are the days when a visitor could wander through the ruins of Palmyra, a classical city that rises like a mirage from the eastern desert, without encountering another soul.

“Syria needs to do more preservation. I was in Lebanon and the level of indiscriminate construction made me never want to go back,” said Swiss tourist Roland Diethelm, who was having a drink on a hotel terrace overlooking the ruins at Palmyra.

Repeated wars have left scars on Syria’s neighbour Lebanon but those tourists who do make the journey often combine it with a short drive to Damascus.

Construction across Syria has been chaotic but investors are taking increasing care to preserve the character of Old Damascus and Aleppo, realising that this is what many Europeans crave.

Opened a year ago, Beit Zaman hotel is a painstakingly restored 300-year-old courtyard house located on Damascus’ Roman-era Straight Street, which is mentioned in the Bible.

The hotel now hosts luxury tourists and special events.

“Our customers appreciate the restoration work we have done and the feel of Old Damascus,” said Beit Zaman spokeswoman Solar Arissian. “It took some time, but we are seeing more competition and efforts to promote Syria that are attracting more tourists.”

Source: Reuters/etn

Talks also dealt with the importance of bolstering cooperation mechanisms in the fields of trade and industry, as well as the sectors of tourism, agriculture, investment and the cultural activities between both countries.

Mikdad emphasized the solid and deep relations between Syria and the countries of South America and the significance of enhancing cooperation with Brazil in all fields.

He also made a review of the political situation and developments in the Middle East and the Syrian attitude towards them, expressing Syria’s appreciation of Brazil and the Brazilian people for their support of the Arab rights and rejection of the Israeli policies of occupation and annexation.

For his part, Shahin asserted keenness on enhancing economic relations with Syria, voicing desire for encouraging Syrian and Brazilian businessmen to establish joint investment projects to promote the development process in both countries. He also lauded the big progress and the new investment environment he has witnessed in Syria.

Source: SANA

The situation is not expected to improve until next spring, and that is if the rains do not fail for a second year in a row, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

An assessment by the UN country team has confirmed that the situation is considerably worse than initially feared and the requested $20.23 million will be used on projects in cooperation with the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The average yield of basic crops has dropped significantly in both irrigated and rain-fed areas and up to 59,000 small herders have lost almost all their herds, with 47,000 others losing 50 to 60 per cent.

In addition, food prices have risen at a rate outstripping household income and the purchasing power of the general population in the affected areas. The UN inter-agency mission found that many people are eating less, selling assets or migrating.

Anemia, malnutrition and diarrhea are on the rise, especially among children under five and pregnant women. Drinking water has also decreased in rural areas of the northeast, particularly in villages depending on protected wells as their only source.

The majority of the funding – $14 million – is required for agriculture and livelihoods while $5 million will go for food. The UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) has already allocated $1.97 million for three projects in the appeal.

Sounce: UN News

The workshop, which was attended by Syrian Minister of Tourism Saadalla Agha al-Qalaa, is an important opportunity for activating mutual tourist work and increasing the arrival of tourist groups in both countries.

The workshop also included meetings between tourism and travel agencies and representatives of tourist activities in both countries, during which they discussed means to increase tourist advent and exchange expertise and delegation, in addition to activating mutual tourist investments and providing a complete tourist product between Syria and Tunisia.

Agha al-Qalaa stressed the importance of holding tourism workshops, which introduce the tourist product in both countries, in addition to the possibility of communicating between tourism and travel agencies to increase the number of tourist groups and mutual investments.

Minister of Tourism provided a detailed review on the state of Syrian tourism and its development in the past few years, in addition to the procedures and facilitations that form an element of attraction to tourist investments and tourist arrival.

Gu Chaoxi, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration and Mohamed Kheir Al-Wadi, Syrian ambassador to China, signed two documents on Tuesday, including a bilateral tourism memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a cooperation plan.

Mohamed Kheir Al-Wadi said China and Syria had a long history of friendship and exchanges going back to the Silk Road period.
“We will work together to promote bilateral tourism exchanges,” he said.

Syria’s tourism income reached 2.3 billion US dollars last year and it expects to welcome 12 million foreign travelers by 2015.

To date, some 300,000 evacuees have fled taking the Beirut-Damascus route. In total, about 700,000 Lebanese have been displaced.

eTurboNews spoke with Nashaa't Sanadiki, president of the Syrian Federation of Tourism  Chambers, the umbrella organization under which the Syrian Hotel Association, Travel Agents Association, Chamber of Tourist Establishments and Chamber of Tourism Supplies/Commodities fall.

In this exclusive interview, we hear first-hand how Syria's tourism industry plays a major role in an emergency about to turn into a humanitarian crisis within just a few days.

eTN: How is Syria coping with this huge influx? Is your hotel or lodging industry able to absorb the traffic? Were you prepared for a crisis like this? How?
Nashaa't Sanadiki: Our occupancy was running very high already.  There are about 43,000 rooms and 80,000 beds. The summer season was well booked by neighboring visitors who enjoy our weather, mountains, sea, nature and the city life. Prior to the crisis, several hotels even reported 130 percent occupancy all the way until September. Then came the violence last Thursday, all the hotels were immediately sold out. Today, however, one is able to find rooms much easier unlike the first days of infighting. I must say, there is slight difficulty with finding a regular, standard guestroom as some properties have opened their restaurant outlets, clubs, ballrooms and other convention facilities for use as sleeping quarters. Hotels put extra beds in meeting rooms, fitness centers, just about everywhere, to accommodate them all.

eTN: Do you charge guests for using the facilities other than the standard rooms?
Sanadiki: The hotels do. But we also have shelters such as schools, villages, convents, churches, public buildings accommodating the refugees and homeless. One thing I would like to underscore, we are not taking advantage of the crisis situation. Hotels are not engaging in any price-gouging.

eTN: How are your shelters able to feed tens of thousands stranded there?
Sanadaki: A lot of private organizations and the business associations are chipping in. In fact, in last Friday's prayer, the highest donations collected totaled $20,000. This charity will go on for as long as the refugees are coming in. The Syrian Red Crescent society is managing the funds disbursement. They are putting up kiosks on the Syrian-Lebanese border at the same time, offering them supplies upon arrival to Syria including phone access and sometimes, even mobile phones to talk to their relatives.
 
Past the border, Syrians give Pampers to children, blankets to families, water and food. On top, to ease things up, we receive the Lebanese even without their legal documents. Such are old women who fled their homes in haste, families whose homes got destroyed and lost their passports or IDs.

Coaches are picking them up from the border free of charge.

eTN: How do you keep a record of the entries? How are the evacuees doing?
When they reach Syria, do they look tired, stressed out, wounded, bleeding or sick?
Sanadiki:  Of course, we keep a record of all entries including hotels they stay or onward addresses. They are doing just fine. Most of them on the borders are being interviewed by Arab TV networks. It may have taken them 10 to 13 hours to reach the border and yes, they are worn out.

eTN: Are you getting help from the United Nations with supplies, medicine, first-aid?
Sanadiki: Everything is provided by our government and the Syrian people.  Since we manufacture 60 percent of the medicines we consume, everything today is available right here. They are handed out in generous amounts to all the evacuees in need.

eTN: I assume all your hotels in Damascus are full. How about the hotels outside the capital such as in Tartush, Palmyra, Bosra, Aphamia, etc?
Sanadiki: In the first 5 days of the crisis, people filled up hotels in Aleppo and Latakia when Damascus reached capacity. Major concentration of evacuees and guests we received was in these cities.

eTN: When guests' funds run out, what do you do with them?
Sanadiki: Nobody came without funds. The poorer ones, of course, get housing at the shelters.

eTN: Is there safety and security in the streets these days now that your population jumped by a quarter million overnight? Is there law and order in public areas?
Sanadiki: Nobody sleeps in the streets. Everyone gets a roof above his head and gets three hot meals a day. Our tourism and hotel staff volunteer to cook for people, serve them with plates, cups and cutleries. Things are being managed by volunteer groups. Crime is off the streets and law and order maintained round the clock.

eTN: Doesn't this stretch the hotel and tourism staff thin?
Sanadiki: They do this a call of duty, as part of their job. People here are extremely kind to neighbors, especially in times of crisis.

eTN: What happened to your summer tourists who booked before the crisis started? Did they cancel, leave in a rush, free the rooms or stay?
Sanadiki: They stayed. Guests are still coming in. Others who were already in Syria stick to their travel plans.

eTN: How easy or difficult is it for Americans and other nationals to enter Syria today as we know you have tight entry regulations unlike your neighboring Arab countries?
Sanadiki: Whoever comes from Lebanon today is allowed entry, including their domestic helpers/ housemaids/ drivers/ personal staff most of whom come from Ethiopia, India, Sri Lanka, Colombo, Indonesia, the Philippines. Immigrations has always been very tough with household staff. But since the crisis started, they have allowed all Lebanese to come with non-relatives who work for them.

Before the crisis, the Syrian government agreed with tour operators that when groups of seven or more come in with a travel itinerary, they can get the visa upon arrival. Those who come on their own as independent travelers need to secure their visas in advance. As part of our bilateral agreement with Lebanon, those who enter Lebanon with a visa may enter our country securing the Syrian visa at the point of entry, vice versa for Lebanon. If guests come through an official tourist program, the visa fee is waived.

On their own, Americans who come are charged $100 for a visa – same amount a Syrian gets charged to enter the US. This is just a matter of reciprocity. Since this war broke, the visa regulation has been thoroughly relaxed.

(Part one in a two-part series)