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Bahraini Tourists Flock To Syria


 

 www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com: Syria may not appear to be the obvious hunting ground for the holiday-hungry, but for Bahrainis the Syrian Arab Republic has become one of the region’s top getaways.On a visit to Bahrain last week, Syrian Tourism Minister Sadallah Al Qala Alkala announced that 65,000 Bahrainis visited Syria over the past year.The phenomenal number means that roughly a seventh of the Bahraini population visited Syria in 2006 alone. “You can see Bahrainis everywhere, they’re on the streets, in the cafes, in the stores,” said Elias Achy, senior sales executive of Syrian travel agent, Chamtour, “it’s an incredibly popular place for Bahrainis to come.” So why has a country that shares a large border with war-torn Iraq, has been forced into diplomatic pariah status and quarantined for decades by the US become such a holiday-making magnet?“All the countries from the Gulf visit in large numbers,” said Suleimann Sarra, the Syrian Ambassador in Bahrain, “Syria is a very popular destination for Arab tourists.
“They don’t need a visa,” he explained “there’s no language barrier, the country is secure and safe, and there are a wide variety of things to see.
“There are all sorts of tourism. Some Bahrainis go to visit religious sites, others go to get cheap medical treatment.“There are also 3,000 archeological sites, coastal and mountain resorts, and there are many attractions in Damascus, which is the oldest inhabitated city in the world. People especially like to go to the suqs and the markets.”Khalid Ali A Rahman, a driving instructor from East Riffa, 52, visited Syria last week.
He said: “Syria is cheap compared to many other places. The currency conversion works for us Bahrainis. When you compare it to Europe it’s a lot more reasonable. My family and I like to go to Syria to visit the resorts and go shopping. Clothes shopping is the best. There are some great suqs like Al Hamidia, Alsalhia and Bab Touma.”

The enjoyment that people like Mr Rahman have found in visiting Syria means that investment in the country’s tourism industry is growing quickly.
Although Syria’s tourism infrastructure has yet to be properly established, tourism currently constitutes seven per cent of the country’s GDP – and is growing rapidly.
Between 2000 and 2005 the number of tourists visiting the country had increased by 15 per cent, rising from 1.68 million to 3.36 million, explained Mr Sarra.
At last week’s Syrian tourism investment forum held in Bahrain’s Gulf Hotel, 45 projects were exhibited with a total worth of $600 million. By 2006, investment in hotels and restaurants had risen to more than $3.6 billion revealed Mr Sarra. Although only 13 per cent of the Syria’s tourists are from Europe and the West, the tourism ministry is encouraging greater numbers to come. “The image of Syria in the West has been very negative,” explained Osama Al Nouri, of Trans Asia Travel and Tourism at last week’s investment forum, “one of our aims is to use tourism as a tool for dialogue.”But Syria’s image is already beginning to change for the better. Following the invasion of Iraq, Syria has been shrugging off its US-inflicted pariah status.
It’s extended its arms to more than a million Iraqi refugees; it took in 180,000 temporary Lebanese refugees fleeing last summer’s war with Israel – and coupled with Condaleeza Rice’s recent visit to Damascus – is placing the country in a different light.
Mr Sarra hopes that expats in Bahrain will make the effort to visit the country.
“Its very near and its very cheap,” he said, “visas can be issued within a reasonable time and we have a very active processing section. There are wonderful places to visit and there are daily flights to Syria from Bahrain.”
He explained that a Syria’s ancient and diverse heritage makes the country a prime vacation destination, for both Arabs and expats.
But he added: “The best advice I can give is to come and see it for yourself.”
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Etihad Reviews Flights To Syria After Arab League Imposes Sanctions
Etihad Reviews Flights To Syria After Arab League Imposes Sanctions

Etihad Airways today urged all guests currently booked on flights to or from Damascus to contact the airline if they wanted to change their travel plans. (28/11/2011)
Syrian Arab Airlines has received the second French aircraft
Syrian Arab Airlines has received the second French aircraft

Syrian air lines has received the second French aircraft (08/02/2011)
The Mystery and History of Aramaic Town of Syria, Saidnaya and Maaloula.
The Mystery and History of Aramaic Town of Syria, Saidnaya and Maaloula.

Ma’lula, this charming famous village in Syria is some 56 kilometres, less than One Hours drive north from Damascus (12/01/2011)

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Amman Office / Agents
Mr. Motaz Othman
P.O. Box 841113 Amman 111180
Amman – Jordan

Mobile : +962 785 557 778, Tel: +962 6 4618615,  Fax:+962 6 4618613, E-mail: itmamman@tcph.org

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Syria

The news that published in Islamic Tourism Trade Media

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The articles which appeared in Islamic Tourism magazine

Syrian poet Adonis: calligraphy, art, poems and politics

  Issue 69

The Mystery and History of Aramaic Town of Syria, Saidnaya and Maaloula

  Issue 60

2010 Syrian International Rally FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round 6 of 8

  Issue 57

Summer resorts and historical spots in Syria

  Issue 54

Destinations lifts the veil on travel to Libya, Iran and Syria

  Issue 50

ATB Syria Arabian Tourism Bursa

  Issue 40

The Syrian Travel Fair

  Issue 36

Hama
Jewel of El-Assi River
  Issue 35

The Syrian Minister of Tourism
Positive results for our promotional campaigns
  Issue 34

Al Maghribi Mosque
place of worship, tourism and pilgrimage
  Issue 32

Idleb
Natural beauty and rich history
  Issue 29

Advert
Syria www.syriatourism.org
  Issue 29

Advert
Syria
  Issue 28

Tartous
A quiet city on the Mediterranean sea
  Issue 28

The heroine of Kerbela
A visit to the mosques of sayeeda Zainab in Egypt and Syria
  Issue 28

ATB
The 4th international travel and tourism fair
  Issue 27

Saidnaya and Maaloula
The historic aramaic towns of Syria
  Issue 25

A Honeymoon
in Syria
  Issue 24

Advert
Syria
  Issue 23

Avert
Syria
  Issue 22

Advert
Cham Hotel
  Issue 22

Aleppo
The Capital Of Islamic Culture
  Issue 22

Advert
Syria
  Issue 21

Damascus's Splendid Umayyad Mosque
The city's crowning glory
  Issue 21

The silk road festival
2005
  Issue 20

Al-Khawabi Citadel
A heritage threatened by absent-mindedness and neglect
  Issue 17

Aleppo
witness of history
  Issue 15

The Silk Road Festival

  Issue 14

Exhibition
The International Flower Exhibition
  Issue 13

Syria
Beautiful beaches and enchanting resorts
  Issue 12

Damascus
The capital of Ummiah with Roman Heritage
  Issue 11

Ad
Cham palaces & hotels
  Issue 11

Damascus
hosts UFTAA world congress
  Issue 9

Ma'alula
A trip to Ma'alula Village and Crac Des Chevaliers in Syria
  Issue 9

The Silk road revisited
Ancient route of international understanding and friendship
  Issue 9

News
The first international exhibition for tourism and travel
  Issue 8

Syria
The meeting of past and present
  Issue 5

Exhibitions
The arab and the world exhibition
  Issue 5

Syria
A new vision of tourism
  Issue 5

Damascus
International Symposium on Cultural Tourism
  Issue 2




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