RIYADH: Syria’s Tourism Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with three Saudi technology firms to help accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s tourism sector.
The agreement with Tamkeen, Cipher and Hawaz aims to establish an integrated digital ecosystem to modernize tourism services, improve visitor experiences and strengthen institutional capabilities as Syria seeks to revive the industry through investment and technology.
The agreement comes as Syria steps up efforts to revive its tourism industry through investment and modernization.
According to the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, the country welcomed 3.52 million visitors in the first half of 2026, more than double the 1.67 million recorded during the same period last year, while foreign tourist arrivals surged 448 percent to 719,000.
In a statement, Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salhani said: “Digital transformation is not simply a technology project — it is a strategic pillar of rebuilding a more competitive, resilient and future-ready tourism sector.
“Our ambition is not merely to keep pace with digital transformation, but to lead it across the tourism industry by building an integrated digital ecosystem powered by trusted data, robust governance and resilient cybersecurity.”
He added: “We want the Ministry of Tourism to serve as a benchmark for digital government in the tourism sector and to become the reference point for the wider tourism ecosystem.”
National tourism platform
Under the agreement, the partners will establish a unified digital platform for tourism services and bookings, along with a national tourism portal offering information on destinations, attractions and events across Syria.
The collaboration will also focus on enhancing cybersecurity, strengthening data governance and developing advanced data collection and analytics systems to support evidence-based policymaking and long-term planning for the tourism sector.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in the ministry’s long-term digital transformation strategy, shifting the focus beyond administrative modernization toward a fully integrated digital operating model for the tourism sector. It aims to enhance service delivery, improve institutional performance and strengthen Syria’s competitiveness as it seeks to re-establish its position in regional and global tourism markets.
The push follows broader efforts to revive the sector. In November, the ministry signed an executive program with the Arab Tourism Organization and announced tourism investment contracts and memorandums of understanding worth about $1.5 billion covering hotels, resorts, entertainment projects and the redevelopment of historic sites.
