www.arabnews.com A high-level Saudi business delegation will visit Syria on April 23 to participate in a four-day tourism investment exhibition organized by the Syrian Tourism Ministry, according to Basil M. Al-Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Advisors and chairman of the Saudi side in the Saudi-Syrian Business Council.

He said Syria has offered a number of tourist sites for foreign investments. أ¢â‚¬إ“The exhibition will be an opportunity to learn about details of these tourism projects and make initial investment proposals,أ¢â‚¬آ‌ Al-Ghalayini said.

In the first stage, Syria is offering 25 million square meters, which account for 30 to 35 percent of total sites, for investment. These sites are allocated for establishment of tourism-related projects such as hotels or tourist villages or restaurants.

On the geographical location of the sites, Ghalayini said there are 100 sites distributed in most of the countryأ¢â‚¬â„¢s provinces. The sites are concentrated in Damascus and Halab, as well as in the coastal areas of Ladqiya and Tartous, the northern city of Haska and southern city of Tadmur.

He commended Syriaأ¢â‚¬â„¢s economic openness as it allows expatriates to have full ownership of their projects. أ¢â‚¬إ“This is a good opportunity to invest in Syria,أ¢â‚¬آ‌ he pointed out.

Arrangements have been made for the meeting of the Saudi delegation with Syrian officials including those in the Tourism Ministry.

Last year more than three million tourists visited Syria against 2.1 million in the previous year, registering an increase of 45 percent, according to a report issued by the Syrian Tourism Ministry.

The ministry also said that the countryأ¢â‚¬â„¢s revenues from tourism rose to $2.2 billion last year from $1.4 billion the previous year.

Al-Ghalayini had met with Syrian Tourism Minister Dr. Saadallah Al-Qalaa on March 20 in Damascus and discussed about investment opportunities in the countryأ¢â‚¬â„¢s tourism sector.

A meeting of the 28 Saudi members in the business council will be held on Wednesday to elect an executive committee in order to set out future plans and follow up their implementation, he said.