DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Tourism Minister Lamia Assi on Sunday announced that the reduction of consumer spending tax on two and three star touristic facilities from 10 % down to 5 % came into effect on December 18.

The announcement came during the Minister's meeting with directors of Tourism Departments at the Ministry.

DAMASCUS, (SANA)_Participants at the 7th Tourist Investment Market Forum, organized by Ministry of Tourism on Monday, discussed tourist investment prospects in Syria and the new projects proposed by the ministry.

A memo of understanding between the ministry and the trade unions was signed to develop two tourist medical cities, the first in al-Zabadani, Damascus countryside, and the second in Borj Eslam, Lattakia. 40 tourist projects to be distributed across the Syrian governorates were proposed by the ministry to investors.

HAMA, SANA_ Qasr Ibn Wardan (Ibn Wardan Palace), is one of the most prominent architectural masterpieces that amazes visitors and tourists, especially in the rainy season, where nice rose smell emit from.

60 km northeast of Hama governorate, central Syria, The complex of a palace, church and barracks was erected in the mid 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565).

TARTOUS, (SANA) – Members of the foreign and Arab delegation visiting Tartous governorate on Monday stressed Syria's richness in archeological and tourist destinations.

The delegation comprises scientific and economic figures from universities of Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, Iraq and Algeria and Syrian expatriates in the US.

Dr. Fateha Hajjo from Algeria indicated to Syria's historical importance, adding that this is her first visit to Syria and she felt the solid social texture among the Syrian people.

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of Tourism Lamia Assi on Wednesday stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation in tourism between Syria and India as part of her ministry's efforts to target new markets in the east.

During a meeting with a delegation of Indian intellectuals, professors, journalists, political analysts and representatives of tourism companies, Assi affirmed that the ministry's current directives involve boosting cooperation with India along with several other countries including South Africa, Brazil and Malaysia.

She pointed out that there are plans to hold cultural and tourist activities in India to introduce people there to Syria, noting that India is a strong market that provides 8 to 10 million tourists each year.

DAMASCUS, (SANA) - Minister of Tourism Lamia Assi on Tuesday said that the Ministry views tourism as a developmental process the Syrian investors has the priority to actively contribute to after they have been excluded to an extent over the past years in favor of the Arab and foreign investors.

Meeting Heads of Vocational Unions at Dedeman Hotel, the Minister discussed opportunities of partnership in the field of tourism investment between the Ministry and the unions with the aim to encourage local investment and establish tourism projects that suite citizens and constitute additional revenue resources for the unions.

DARAA, (SANA) - Al-Lajat area in Daraa Province, 101 km to the south of Damascus, embraces great archeological monuments as it constitutes an integrated museum and an important tourist destination.

Al-Lajat area is estimated at 1,000 km² as it expands from the east of Jordan to al-Arab Mountain, and it has a shape of equilateral triangle, each side of which is 45 km and it is 800 m above sea level.