Syria aims for 8 million tourists by 2010

Minister of Tourism said on Tuesday Syria aims at increasing tourists number to reach eight million by 2010.

At the opening of the "Syrian Tourist Horizons Forum," Sadallah Agha al-Qala said the goal will guarantee bringing tourist revenues of about $ 6 billion as it targets making an increase of 9,000 new hotel beds annually in addition to earning $ 1 billion a year as an investment from the tourist sector.

He noted that in 2004, Syria was capable of gaining a big jump in number of comers and tourists from various world countries where the number of overnight stay tourists has exceeded 3 million, and the tourist expenditure in 2004 was $ 2.2 billion.

Qala said the importance of the forum comes from being a site for dialogue among partners in a continuous effort to reach to the best formula and clarify conditions to consolidate confidence among partners in addition to discuss tourism investment opportunities in new projects and to rehabilitate old cities and archeological sites and means of financing them.

The two-day meeting is organized by ministry of tourism in Syria and Business and Development Company for Conferences and Fairs at the Meridian Hotel.

It will work to acquaint participants with successful experiences in the field of travel and tourism as well advertisement and tourist circulation plans in addition to a photo display to certain projects to develop tourist houses and locations.