Ministry of Tourism launches comprehensive plan to revive stalled tourism projects

The Ministry of Tourism announced the development of integrated programs in cooperation with investors to reactivate stalled or troubled tourism projects and facilities, according to timelines submitted to the ministry for approval. This was stated by Assistant Minister of Tourism for Development and Investment Affairs, Engineer Ghayath Al-Farah, as reported by SANA news agency.

Al-Farah emphasized that the ministry is working on rehabilitating tourism facilities by providing necessary facilitations to resume operations, in addition to securing new facilities including hotel rooms, dining chairs, and entertainment complexes, which will contribute to creating job opportunities for Syrian youth in the near future.

He added that the ministry is in contact with the owners of previously stalled projects _despite being contracted_ to provide all necessary technical and administrative support to enable them to start investing. He also noted that the new investment law, to be issued by the ministry soon, includes "significant incentives and benefits for owners of tourism facilities" to complete their projects, thus enhancing the tourism sector amidst the increasing number of tourists visiting Syria.

Regarding old facilities spread across provinces, Al-Farah explained that there is a "new vision" to address them, especially those that did not previously receive facilitations to secure necessary materials and equipment.

He also revealed the ministry's efforts to activate a decision allowing damaged facilities due to "previous regime practices" to be rebuilt and rehabilitated, even if they had previously benefited from exemptions, as these damages resulted from "force majeure" and not from investor negligence.