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The Syrian Ministry of Tourism held an extensive consultative meeting with a number of tourism establishment owners, to discuss regulatory frameworks for approving a number of establishments as strategic partners within a voluntary legal model.
The meeting, which Enab Baladi attended on March 4, discussed the mechanism for approving prices in a participatory manner based on clear economic foundations, including cost analysis, fair profit margins, tourism classification, and purchasing power indicators, in a way that achieves a balance between market freedom and consumer protection, according to the statement.
During his opening speech, the Syrian Minister of Tourism, Mazen Al-Salhani, announced the start of a round of meetings with representatives of the tourism sector.
This is with the aim of setting broad guidelines aimed at improving tourism services in preparation for the holiday season and the upcoming summer season.
The minister explained that the war caused a significant delay in the quality of tourism services and infrastructure development.
The sector has not kept pace with global development due to several factors, most notably the lack of international products in the Syrian market, according to the minister, which the current program seeks to overcome by raising the level of the local market.
Al-Salhani also revealed data that reflects the recovery of tourism activity, as last season witnessed the entry of about four million expatriate visitors, and one and a half million Arab and foreign visitors.
He pointed out that the ceiling of expectations of expatriates and visitors coming from abroad is very high, which places the Ministry in front of the responsibility of improving the quality of services in terms of quality, quality and price.
He indicated that prices last season were high and not commensurate with neighboring countries, due to increased demand.
Controlling prices and quality standards
The head of the Federation of Syrian Tourism Chambers, Murhaf Nuzha, told Enab Baladi that the proposed agenda focused on establishing precise mechanisms for pricing services in restaurants, hotels, and tourist tours, noting that there are proposals that range from liberalizing or restricting prices to ensure balance.
Regarding the standards required for tourist establishments to be a strategic partner of the Ministry, Nazha explained that the establishment must be exemplary in its commitment to regulations and laws, paying taxes, and providing a service worthy of the customer and guest, while adhering to health and professional standards in restaurants and hotels.
He pointed out that the goal is not to reduce prices, which leads to poor quality, but rather to provide appropriate service at a fair price.
He also explained that exaggerating the cheap prices may negatively reflect on food safety and the level of service provided to citizens.
As a tourism investor for the “Royal Semiramis”, “Golden Mezzeh” and “Sultan Al Sharq Restaurant” hotels, Nozha pointed out that the five-star establishments enjoy flexibility in pricing according to the regulations, but the biggest challenge lies in the current political and economic conditions that the region is going through.
A call for real partnership and price liberalization
In the context of following up on the views of the owners of tourist facilities on the reality of the sector and its challenges, the owner of the “Moonlight” tourist facility and a doctor in economics, Maher Al-Qalai, spoke to Enab Baladi about the necessity of reconsidering the legislative and procedural system that governs tourism work, in line with the current reality.
Al-Qalai pointed to the long history of his facility, which is more than 70 years old, explaining that it had stopped working since 2012 as a result of the repercussions of the events, in addition to logistical obstacles.
Regarding the most prominent requirements of the next stage, Al-Qalai stressed the need to reduce administrative complexities, develop regulations and laws to be more flexible, build a real partnership between government agencies and economic actors, and improve infrastructure.
Al-Qalai added that tourism is selling a service that depends on the tourist’s first impression, which requires addressing visual and audio distortions, and providing basic services.
Regarding the thorny issue of prices, Al-Qalai proposed an economic vision based on liberalizing prices to create competitiveness between establishments, provided that each establishment commits to clearly announcing the prices of its services.
In addition to achieving flexible profit margins due to the fluctuation of raw material prices and operational costs, according to Al-Qali.
He also called for adopting stable pricing for periods of time ranging from approximately six months to a year, including a margin capable of absorbing economic changes, stressing that a tourist facility cannot change its prices on a daily basis.
The occupancy rate in tourist facilities is directly affected by seasonality in summer and winter, and by the surrounding political and economic conditions, which requires support policies that take these differences into account, according to Al-Qalai.
A consultative meeting between the Syrian Ministry of Tourism and tourist facilities – March 4, 2026 (Enab Baladi / Ahmed Al-Muslimani)
Memorandum of understanding
During the meeting, the Ministry of Tourism announced a memorandum of understanding that is considered a contractual document between the Ministry and tourism establishments.
Which aims to establish a clear framework for the partnership and define mutual obligations to ensure the success of the pricing mechanism and tourism initiatives.
The Ministry’s obligations include providing promotional and media support to establishments, providing administrative and advisory facilities, and providing training and continuous development opportunities.
In return, establishments are committed to the pricing mechanism approved by the Ministry, providing high-quality services, actively participating in tourism initiatives, and submitting international reports on operational and pricing data.
The memorandum of understanding will also be signed for a period of one year, subject to renewal, and joint committees will be formed, a semi-annual review will be conducted, and periodic meetings will be held, to ensure the effectiveness of the pricing mechanism and the success of the initiatives, according to the Syrian Ministry of Tourism.
Investment vision
In a statement to Enab Baladi, the tourism investor, Majeed Nozha, the partner investor in the “Golden Al Mozn” and “Roya Semiramis” hotels, along with other investors, explained that the tourism sector in Syria is going through a delicate stage that requires overcoming post-recovery challenges to reach real and sustainable tourism.
Nuzha pointed out that the biggest obstacle to attracting tourists currently lies in the weak infrastructure and transportation crises, in addition to the limited readiness of Damascus International Airport.
The current visitor to Syria is often forced, whether an expatriate or an investor, while real tourism has not begun, waiting for the completion of logistical and security improvements in the region, according to the investor’s opinion.
In his reading of the reality of prices, Nozha presented a vision based on the principles of a free economy, calling for not to be afraid of high prices in the early stages, and justified this with the aim of attracting investment, developing cadres and stimulating competition.
He said that his basic demand is that the price be determined by the market, with the oversight role focusing on preventing fraud and ensuring transparency.
Regarding the new memorandum proposed, he said that it is comfortable and encouraging, stressing that the goal is not to achieve a quick profit, but rather to build a long-term vision that ensures that tourists return to Syria repeatedly, making it the preferred destination in the region.
End centralized pricing
The Vice President of the Damascus Chamber of Tourism and Head of the Hotels Division, Mamdouh Haqbiq, confirmed to Enab Baladi that the next stage will witness a qualitative shift, noting that the current trend focuses on ending central pricing, in a way that ensures raising the level of quality.
Haqbiq explained that the old mechanism that relied on centralization in setting prices no longer met the requirements of the modern tourism sector, and was also an obstacle to achieving the required quality standards.
Regarding the partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Haqbiq stressed that tourism facilities are a strategic partner of the Ministry in all fields, noting that the current focus is on two basic criteria:
Service standardsIt is represented in the quality of services provided and the qualification of human cadres to ensure a decent reception and provide professional services to visitors.
Technical parameters: It relates to the facility’s equipment, including rooms and facilities, and updating them in accordance with international classifications.
The Vice President of the Chamber revealed the existence of close cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism to provide tangible facilities to faltering or neglected hotels, by supporting improvement and development processes in cooperation with some local banks.
Reconsidering pricing mechanisms for global brands
The regional director of the “Deep n Deep” company in Syria, Yasser Shahbandar, pointed out to Enab Baladi the necessity of reconsidering the product pricing mechanisms for establishments that operate according to the international trademark system.
Shahbandar explained that international facilities face additional financial burdens that do not fall on local producers.
Shahbandar said that they are a global company that adheres to specific quality standards, while importing materials such as chocolate from Belgium, and this entails paying additional fees and operational costs.
In the context of searching for fair solutions, Shahbandar proposed adopting a new classification system for establishments, which includes a special classification for international agencies, where different price margins are granted that take into account agency fees, import costs, and the international standards to which they adhere.
Support affected facilities
At the conclusion of the consultative meeting, Syrian Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani said that the primary goal is to address the noticeable disparity between prices and the quality of services currently provided in the market.
He explained that the Ministry preferred to adopt the principle of partnership with establishment owners instead of imposing top-down decisions, in order to reach competitive prices that would help attract tourists and achieve sustainable tourism in Syria.
The Minister revealed the terms of a new memorandum of understanding that focuses on vital axes, most notably providing support to facilities that were destroyed or damaged during the years of war.
In addition to helping business owners who are unable to fully finance through the partial opening system, and coordinating to secure financing from specific parties and attract investors to support private business owners in developing their businesses.
The spokesman confirmed that efforts are currently being made to provide an exceptional experience for the “guests of Syria,” especially with the approaching holiday period and the upcoming summer season.
Regarding the nature of the relationship with the private sector, the minister stressed that the ministry does not seek to merge private establishments with government sectors, but rather adopts the role of supporter and facilitator.
He pointed out that the private sector is characterized by flexibility and speed, and the Ministry’s role is to issue laws and legislation that protect the investor and guarantee consumer rights, with a focus on building mutual understanding through ongoing dialogues and participatory seminars.
The Minister of Tourism identified the basic foundations on which the relationship between the ministry and the private sector is built, explaining that the strategic partnership takes place through mutual understanding and partnership between the two sides.
The Minister revealed that a series of upcoming meetings are being prepared to complete the setting of standards to ensure the advancement of the profession and the development of the Syrian tourism product.
Tourism is booming in Syria
The number of Arab and foreign tourists coming to Syria, from the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 until the end of November 2025, increased by 80%, compared to the same period in 2024.
The total number of visitors and tourists, including Syrians, Arabs, and foreigners, increased by 18% in 2025, compared to 2024, to reach 3.56 million tourists.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism revealed that the percentage of local employment in new investment contracts to develop and rehabilitate dozens of hotels and tourist resorts in various governorates reached 70%, while the profits of hotels owned by the Ministry of Tourism reached 170%.
According to the Ministry, there are 1,468 tourist facilities ready for revival, including 403 various facilities, 1,103 restaurants, and 365 hotels.
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Syria is examining a new pricing formula in the tourism sector
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سياحة و سفر – Syria is examining a new pricing formula in the tourism sector
المصدر : www.enabbaladi.net