DAMASCUS, (SANA)_Participants at the 7th Tourist Investment Market Forum, organized by Ministry of Tourism on Monday, discussed tourist investment prospects in Syria and the new projects proposed by the ministry.

A memo of understanding between the ministry and the trade unions was signed to develop two tourist medical cities, the first in al-Zabadani, Damascus countryside, and the second in Borj Eslam, Lattakia. 40 tourist projects to be distributed across the Syrian governorates were proposed by the ministry to investors.

Minister of Tourism Lamia Assi said that Syria has occupied a significant position throughout history, which has helped the tourist sector to attract the bulk of investments that enjoyed facilitations and advantages.

Minister Assi said that distributing the 40 tourist projects announced during the forum came in such a way as to materialize the Ministry's plans and visions to upgrade the tourist areas.

The minister said the ministry seeks to add the desert and rivers tourism to the Syrian tourist system.

Assi said that the Forum is exceptional due to its focus on local investment, stressing that the partnership between the Ministry and investors would continue to reach the best outcomes in order to provide best circumstances for investors to carry out their projects.

The participants underlined the importance of supporting national economy to confront the financial and economic sanctions against Syria and overcome the current crisis in cooperation with the investment bodies.

They added that the local tourist investment is an important guarantee to mitigate the negative consequences of the current situation, indicating that tourism in several local tourist sites has flourished given that a big portion of Syrian tourists turned to local tourism.

M. Ismael