Damascus, (SANA) – Minister of Tourism Dr. Saadalla Agha al-Qala'a discussed on Monday with Iraqi State Minister for Tourism and Antiquities Mohammad Abbas al-Oraibi the future of tourist cooperation between the two countries and means to increase tourism attraction and exchange tourist groups and expertise.

Dr. Agha al-Qala'a affirmed his Ministry's dedication to bolstering tourist relations between the two countries and offering expertise and assistance to Iraqi brethren, pointing out to the cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in 2002.

He expressed the Ministry's readiness to share the Syrian experience in promotion and holding expos and tourist activities with the Iraqi delegation, underlining the Syrian tourist establishments' adherence to international standards and commitment to training and rehabilitation.

For his part, al-Oraibi affirmed the importance of cooperation in the field of tourism, expressing his desire to have Iraqi tourism staff undergo training courses in Syria, adding that an Iraqi tourism delegation will visit Syria soon to exchange expertise and benefit from Syria's experience in tourism.

In turn, Chairman of the Iraqi General Tourism Department Hammoud Mohsen al-Yaaqubi stressed the importance of benefiting from Syrian experience in tourism, training and rehabilitation, holding tourism festivals, exchanging visits, and holding a tourism week.

H. Sabbagh / Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA