Syria's Ministry of Tourism has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three Saudi technology firms, Tamkeen, Cipher and Hawaz, to accelerate the digital transformation of the country's tourism sector and enhance its competitiveness in regional and international markets.
The agreement marks a
significant step in the Ministry's long-term strategy to modernise tourism
through a fully integrated digital ecosystem.
Rather than focusing
solely on administrative reform, the initiative aims to improve visitor
services, strengthen institutional performance and support data-driven tourism
planning.
Under the MoU, the
partners will develop a unified digital platform for tourism services and
bookings, alongside a national tourism portal offering comprehensive
information on destinations, attractions and events across Syria.
The project will also
strengthen cybersecurity, introduce data governance frameworks and establish
advanced data collection and analytics systems to support evidence-based
policymaking and long-term sector development.
The agreement was
signed in Damascus in the presence of Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salhani,
representatives of the three Saudi companies, members of the Syrian-Saudi
Business Council and senior ministry officials, highlighting the growing role
of public-private partnerships in Syria's digital transformation efforts.
Tamkeen, Cipher and
Hawaz bring expertise in digital transformation, government technology,
cybersecurity and institutional modernisation, with experience supporting
projects aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Their involvement is
expected to help the Ministry adopt international best practices in digital
governance, service design and operational efficiency.
In addition to digital
infrastructure, the programme includes destination marketing campaigns
targeting regional and international visitors, as well as training initiatives
to equip tourism professionals with skills for an increasingly digital
industry.
The initiative builds
on the Ministry's wider digital transformation roadmap and aligns with Syria's
broader national agenda to modernise public services, strengthen digital
infrastructure and expand e-government capabilities.
By embedding digital technologies across the
tourism value chain, the project aims to improve visitor engagement, attract
investment and support sustainable tourism growth through innovation and
data-driven decision-making.
Mazen Al-Salhani, Minister of Tourism,
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. 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." -TradeArabia News Service