The head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, has issued three laws related to the tourism sector, which were approved by the People’s Assembly at the beginning of this month.

The first law (No. 27), according to the text published by the Syrian news agency (SANA) on Thursday, November 14, provides a two-year period for unlicensed tourism establishments that are in operation to regularize their status and obtain tourism licenses.

The second law (No. 28) grants work nature allowance to the workers at the Dummar Center for Tourism and Hotel Training, in accordance with the provisions of “Article 2” of Legislative Decree “No. 6” of 2022.

The third law establishes a new regulation for the profession of tourist guiding and the conditions for practicing it, considering it an “intellectual profession” that contributes to achieving tourism and social development, according to SANA.

Additionally, the third law requires that anyone practicing the tourism profession hold Syrian nationality or be equivalent, and be at least 22 years old.

A tourist guide must not be employed in public sector jobs and must not have any criminal convictions.

According to the provisions of the laws, a tourist guide must possess a Syrian university degree or its equivalent, and the guide’s license must be renewed every three years.

The announced laws impose a fine of five million Syrian pounds on any tourism organizing institution or travel agency that conducts a trip for a tourist group without providing a licensed guide to accompany them.

Last week, the People’s Assembly approved a law requiring tourist guides to adhere to the “national approach” in political discussions, distancing themselves from doctrinal and sectarian discussions.

The law also prohibits guiding tourists to purchase gifts and collectibles at exorbitant prices for the purpose of exploitation or illegal financial gain, as well as accepting any commission or reward from commercial establishments.

Last month, the Syrian regime’s government issued a decision allowing licensed tourism establishments by the Ministry of Tourism to charge service commissions in foreign currency, depending on the nature of the service and announced programs, after obtaining the necessary approvals.

This comes as part of a series of facilities initiated by the new regime government, headed by Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, concerning tourism establishments, coinciding with the influx of Lebanese into Syria, fleeing the repercussions of the Israeli bombardment in Lebanon.