Tourism Minister: Tourism sector will be an important extension of reconstruction

Beijing,(ST)-  Addressing the 22nd session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization in China, Minister of Tourism Bisher al- Yaziji called for lifting of unilateral tough economic measures imposed on the Syrian people, pointing out that Syria has not only been subjected to terrorism of armed groups but has also been subjected to terrorism of media that has tried to distort its image of Syria in addition to an economic and tourism terrorism through the imposition of sanctions on banks, aviation, airports and visitors to Syria.

Mr. al-Yaziji said that the tourism sector will be an important extension of reconstruction, pointing out that the ministry has prepared a plan for tourism development, including training, tourism planning, traditional crafts, investment and technology use in addition to diversifying the rich tourism product in Syria.

The Minister of Tourism expressed his thanks to China and its hospitality, stressing that Syria has always been a major gateway to the Silk Road historically.

The General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) opened its twenty-second session in China, entitled “Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals” with the participation of 143 countries. The WTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics was approved at the meetings as an international convention covering the responsibilities of all stakeholders in the development of sustainable tourism and to ensure a framework that provides for an ethical and sustainable manner of action, including the right to tourism, freedom of movement of tourists and the rights of personnel.

It is worthy mentioned that Russia was chosen to host the 23rd session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization and the election of Georgi Zurab Pololakashvili as Secretary-General of the World Organization from 2018 to succeed Dr. Talib Rifai after two sessions of the Secretariat‘s presidency for eight years.

Sh. Kh.