Damascus, May 22 (QNA) - Syrian Minister of Tourism Mazen Al Salhani affirmed that the US administration's decision to lift sanctions on Syria represents a pivotal milestone in the recovery of the tourism sector and opens the door to the return of Arab and international investments, estimated at billions of dollars, noting that this step was the result of diplomatic and humanitarian efforts by several parties.

In exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Salhani said that these sanctions were a major obstacle to any investment in the tourism sector, noting that lifting them would give foreign investors - particularly from friendly countries, a real incentive to re-enter the Syrian market, which lacks tourism services, especially in the hotel and healthcare sectors.

He commended the pioneering role played by the State of Qatar in supporting the Syrian people, stressing that Qatar has always stood by the Syrian people in the various stages of their struggle, and that it continues its humanitarian and economic support.

Regarding the government plans to rehabilitate the sector, Al Salhani explained that the ministry has developed a comprehensive strategy that included plans varying from short to long-term, focusing on the rehabilitating hotel infrastructure and expanding the medical, cultural, and religious tourism sectors.

He also noted that the ministry began preparing comprehensive investment files for tourist sites and land plots that will be offered at an upcoming investment conference.

The estimated value of expected investments in this sector is estimated at billions of dollars, given the high demand and the current scarcity of qualified tourism facilities, he added, pointing out that Syria aims to diversify tourism projects to include hotels, health sectors, and archaeological sites, which opens up opportunities for cooperation and partnerships to investors.

In regard to the tourism infrastructure, he said that, although it has almost been completely destroyed during the war, the current government is working to rebuild this infrastructure from scratch to prepare it to host new projects and meet the aspirations of visitors and investors alike.

The Syrian Tourism Minister also revealed the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with a coalition of Gulf companies aimed at developing several tourist sites across the country. He indicated that this step comes within the framework of strengthening partnerships with friendly countries, most notably Qatar.

He emphasized the pivotal importance of the tourism sector in supporting the national economy, considering it a key contributor to the gross domestic product. He also predicted that tourism revenues would rise by between 40 and 50 percent if appropriate conditions were met and all departments committed to supporting the ministry's efforts to rehabilitate this vital sector. (QNA)