Syria’s Ministry of Tourism has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three Saudi technology companies: Tamkeen, Cipher and Hawaz, to accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s tourism sector through the development of an integrated digital ecosystem that enhances the visitor experience, strengthens institutional capability and enables data-driven tourism development.
Representing a major step in the Ministry’s long-term digital transformation strategy, the MoU moves beyond administrative modernisation towards a fully integrated digital operating model for the tourism sector. It will improve service delivery, strengthen institutional performance and increase Syria’s competitiveness as it repositions itself in regional and international tourism markets.
Commenting on the agreement, H.E. 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.’
Under the agreement, the partners will develop a unified digital platform for tourism services and bookings alongside a national digital tourism portal providing comprehensive information on destinations, attractions and events across Syria. The partnership also includes strengthening cybersecurity capabilities, implementing robust data governance frameworks, and developing advanced data collection and analytics systems to support evidence-based policymaking and long-term tourism planning.
Signed in Damascus in the presence of H.E. Mazen Al-Salhani, Minister of Tourism, representatives of Tamkeen, Cipher and Hawaz, members of the Syrian-Saudi Business Council, and senior officials from the Ministry, the MoU underscores the growing role of public-private partnerships in advancing digital transformation across Syria’s tourism industry.
With expertise spanning digital transformation, institutional modernisation, cybersecurity and government technology, the three Saudi companies bring experience supporting digital initiatives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. Their combined capabilities are expected to support the Ministry in deploying international best practices in digital governance, service design and operational excellence.
Beyond digital infrastructure, the programme will also focus on destination marketing initiatives targeting regional and international markets, as well as specialised capacity-building programmes designed to equip tourism professionals with the skills required to operate in an increasingly digital tourism economy.
Building on the Ministry’s broader digital transformation roadmap, the initiative expands earlier efforts focused on institutional governance, information management and administrative modernisation into visitor-facing digital services. It positions data and emerging technologies as key enablers of investment, service innovation and destination competitiveness, while advancing the Ministry’s vision of a tourism-led economy powered by innovation, investment and digital transformation.
The MoU also aligns with Syria’s nationwide digital transformation agenda, as government institutions move from announcing strategic partnerships to implementing large-scale digital initiatives aimed at modernising public services, strengthening digital infrastructure, improving data governance and expanding e-government capabilities. Within this broader national agenda, the Ministry’s initiative represents a sector-specific milestone, embedding digital capabilities across the entire tourism value chain—from government services and destination management to visitor engagement, investment facilitation and smarter policy development.