ISTANBUL, Feb 10 (A.A) - Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar will go to Syria to attend Turkey-Syria Fifth Term Joint Tourism Commission meeting and to hold various contacts.
Speaking in a news conference on Sunday, Tasar said that he would go to Syria the same evening together with a delegation composed of representatives and bureaucrats from Turkey Travel Agencies Union, Turkey Hotel Managers Union, Tourism Investors Association, and Foreign Economic Relations Council. He will stay in Syria for three days.
Recalling that the two countries signed a Tourism Cooperation Agreement on May 17, 1982, Tasar said that the agreement aimed to improve the tourism between the two countries, and to protect and restore historical and cultural works of art.
Tasar stated that lastly it was Syrian Tourism Minister who paid an official visit to Turkey in 1989 and Turkey-Syria Fourth Term Joint Tourism Commission meeting was held. ''Delegations of the two countries will work on new cooperation fields in tourism sector and the Fifth Term Joint Tourism Commission Protocol will be signed,'' he added.
Tasar stated that Sept.11 attacks negatively affected the tourism sector all over the world.
''It seems like this effect will continue for a while. The Tourism Ministry achieved to prevent the negative effects of the attacks on the Turkish tourism. It is important to benefit from all potentials to develop tourism sector. I believe my visit to Syria will be an important step in this respect. I think that a new era could start between Syria and Turkey and we will strengthen our neigbourly ties,'' Tasar said.
During his contacts with Syrian government officials, Tasar said that he would focus on the restoration and preservation of Turkish Islamic architectural works in Syria.
After Sept. 11 attacks, Tasar said that citizens of Arab countries have a limited number of countries where they can spend their vacations, therefore this offers a big opportunity for Turkey.
After his contacts in Aleppo and Damascus, Tasar will come to Gaziantep and he will attend a meeting held by the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The tourism minister will return to Ankara on Feb.15.