Figures release by the Ministry of Tourism show that the number of visitors to Syria reached 6.1 million in 2009, an increase of 12% from 5.43 million visitors in 2008.
The figures include Syrian expatriates but it is not clear if they include one-day visitors from neighboring countries and Iraqi arrivals. The distribution of tourists by source shows that the number of Arab visitors increased by 8% to 3.6 million and accounted for 59% of total arrivals. The number of visitors from the GCC rose by 16% to 0.76 million. Visitors from other parts of the world totaled 1.43 million, up 24% from the previous year, with European tourists accounting for 54% of non-Arab visitors and rising by 25% year-on-year. The number of Syrian expatriates visiting their home country rose by 11% to 1.1 million. The ministry said hotel nights booked through tourism and travel agencies rose by 17% to 936,845 nights. Spending by visitors totaled about $5.3bn for the year, up 21% from 2008.
Byblos Bank – Country Risk Weekly Bulletin