Was Syria once a tourist destination?

Before the start of the Syrian Civil War, 8.5 million tourists visited Syria in 2010, who brought in tourist revenue estimated at 30.8 billion SYP (US$8.4 billion, at 2010 rates), and accounted for 14\% of the country’s economy. By 2015, the number of tourists had declined by more than 98\%.

How has tourism changed in Iran?

Tourist boom According to a latest study by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Iran’s travel and tourism sector grew by 1.9 percent in 2018 to contribute 1,158 trillion rials ($8.83 billion) or 6.5 percent of overall GDP and 1,334 jobs (5.4 percent of total employment) to the country’s economy.

What cities have the most number of tourists in Iran?

Tehran. Tehran, as a top tourist destination in Iran, has been a place of settlement for many millenniums. Archeological excavations have led to the discovery of 7000-year-old human skeletons in the region. Tehran has been the capital city of Iran for two centuries.

What was Syria like before war broke out?

Even before the conflict began, many Syrians were complaining about high unemployment, corruption and a lack of political freedom under President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father, Hafez, after he died in 2000.

How many tourists visited Iran in 2020?

According to World Tourism Organization, Iran had more than 9.1 million international arrivals in 2019, while the period covering nine months of 2020 and the first three months of 2021 registered only 4.3 million visitors, according to Iranian Customs.

When did war in Syria began?

The unrest in Syria (which began on 15 March 2011 as part of the wider 2011 Arab Spring protests) grew out of discontent with the Syrian government and escalated to an armed conflict after protests calling for Assad’s removal were violently suppressed.

What has happened to Syria’s Tourism?

One of the most popular travel destinations in the Middle East before war broke out in March 2011, Syria’s tourism had declined by a reported 98 per cent by 2015, two years after IS was formed.

Why should you visit Syria?

Another even more important reason is that Syria is a great country, home to one of the oldest civilizations ever, so visiting Syria from a tourism perspective is a must-do. The beautiful Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world

Is Syria issuing tourist visas at the moment?

Because of the current Coronavirus situation, Syria is not issuing tourist visas at the moment. They wanted to open their borders in December 2020 but they postponed the reopening. I will update these sections as soon as I get the latest information regarding COVID-19 restrictions in Syria.

Who visits the Iraqi Kurds?

Most visitors come from southern Iraq and Iran, but the region—home to at least 5.6 million of the world’s estimated 36 million Kurds—is becoming increasingly popular among Western tourists too. A citadel in Erbil, northern Iraq.