Damascus-Sana
With the passage of a year since the decision to suspend individual and group visits and trips, including religious tourism, due to the spread of Corona in some countries at the time and the subsequent decisions, especially the closure of tourist facilities and restaurants and reducing their occupancy, the damage to the tourism and hotel sector began to be a reality, which is reflected by the numbers, where the movement of arrivals decreased by 80 percent And with it, hotel reservations and the work of tourism and travel offices.
The Director of Planning and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism, Eng. Ahed Al-Zaeem, explained in a statement to a SANA delegate that the tourism sector was affected by the Corona pandemic, especially during the ban period, as 1790 catering establishments and 370 overnight accommodations were closed at that time, and tourism and travel agencies and transport companies stopped, and with it the work of tourist guides, with the result that about 30 thousand were suspended. A worker already registered in the social insurance.
Al-Zaeem pointed out that hotel works decreased in 2020 in hotels affiliated to the ministry, as well as revenues decreased slightly compared to the same period in 2019, as a result of precautionary measures, especially the closure of borders with neighboring countries and the cessation of religious tourism, as the number of arriving visitors decreased by 80 percent.
With regard to marketing and tourism promotion, the leader indicated that the funds allocated in full were not disbursed as a result of the epidemiological situation, and part of the funds allocated for hosting was spent in some quarantine centers that were provided by the Ministry.
Despite the repercussions of the epidemic on the tourism sector, the Ministry was able, according to the Director of Planning, to complete a financial and contractual balance for several projects, address the stumbling of 5 projects, and sign contracts for 10 projects that were presented in the investment market for the year 2019. The ministry also granted licenses to build 3 projects before the ban period and 4 projects after the end of that period.
During the year 2020, when the work period did not exceed 8 months, the ministry, according to Al-Zaeem, spent its investment budget, 87 percent, between the central administration and the General Authority for Tourism Projects.
With regard to international cooperation, Al-Zaeem mentioned that as a result of Corona, cooperation has turned into teleconferences with several countries, as well as the preparation of tourism cooperation agreements and implementation programs with the Crimean countries, Pakistan, Lebanon and the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to the signing of several local memoranda of understanding with local bodies and destinations.
The Director of Tourism Services and Institutions at the Ministry, Eng. Ramziah Awta Bashi, explained that the complete closure of airports in all countries of the world due to the Corona pandemic had an impact on their work, as the work of the tourism offices was halted, so that the ministry is active in the field of qualifying tourist guides and increasing their cultural experiences in preparation for the next stage.
Utah Bashi revealed that a decision was recently issued to bring in Iraqi religious tourism groups exclusively, under strict controls.
The tourism sector is the first to be affected by the Corona pandemic, according to the head of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Tourism, Engineer Talal Khudair, especially after the decision to close tourist facilities was issued, as few establishments remained in service to meet foreign food requests, referring to the cooperation of facility owners in preserving their workers and providing social aid and salaries at certain rates.
Khudair stated that the tourism sector was the most committed during this period to implementing the government's precautionary decisions regarding the Corona pandemic, considering that the tourism sector has flexibility and is working to find alternatives such as revitalizing domestic tourism and popular tourism, especially with the advent of spring.
Khudair promised to issue decisions that would help in the advancement of the tourism sector, such as activating popular tourist places in the governorates to suit people with limited income, with good standards and reasonable prices, and holding exhibitions and events that activate tourism, indicating that a tourism investment forum will be held to display the damaged, stalled and new projects.
Sakina Muhammad