Syria bets on tourism revival, but visitor surge faces test of security, services

Syria is actively pursuing tourism as a vital sector for economic recovery, aiming to generate jobs and foreign currency more rapidly than other industries. The country boasts over 4,500 registered archaeological sites, including six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, alongside ecotourism and coastal destinations.

Official figures from the Tourism Ministry indicate a substantial increase in visitor numbers. In the first half of 2026, Syria reportedly received 3.52 million visitors, an 111% jump from the 1.67 million recorded during the same period last year. Syrian expatriates constituted the largest segment, with 2.13 million arrivals. Non-Arab foreign tourists saw a dramatic increase of 448%, reaching 719,000, while Arab tourists rose by 107% to 664,000.

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Visitor numbers have risen in recent months. However, tourism remains irregular and depends on the availability of flights, continued security and stability, and the quality of services provided to visitors.

Arrivals from Turkey led the list of foreign markets, followed by Germany, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Jordan topped the Arab markets, with Lebanon and Iraq also showing significant numbers. However, the data's interpretation is nuanced. The ministry classifies Syrians arriving from abroad as 'visitors,' while other nationalities are termed 'tourists.' This distinction raises questions about the proportion of traditional tourism versus visits from the large Syrian diaspora.

Tour guides like Raslan Ramadan in Old Damascus have noted an increase in visitors, though he cautions that tourism remains irregular, contingent on flight availability, ongoing security, and service quality. Hotel staff, such as Mohammed Suleiman at Al Majed Hotel in Damascus, confirm a steady rise in guests but acknowledge that a significant portion are expatriates. He also noted a decline in religious tourism groups from Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, who previously received special treatment.

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The number of guests has risen steadily since the fall of the Assad regime. However, a large proportion are Syrian expatriates visiting the country rather than foreign tourists in the conventional sense.