The Syria Travel Show (STS) 2026 will be held from 28 to 30 September 2026 at Al Moutanbi Hall, Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus. Organised by Mangusteen Events and Exhibitions and SO Media under the patronage of the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, it will serve as Syria’s inaugural international travel trade exhibition.
Event purpose and participating sectors
STS 2026 aims to link a diverse range of stakeholders in Syria’s tourism and hospitality sectors including tourism authorities, investors, hotel groups, developers, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, technology providers, franchise owners and cultural institutions. The event will facilitate partnerships across these sectors as they prepare for the
next phase of tourism growth in Syria.
Tourism sector growth in Syria
In the first half of 2026, Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals, representing a 111% year-on-year increase over the same period in 2025. International visitor arrivals surged by 448%, while Arab visitors increased by 107%. Syrian expatriate visitors also rose by 75%. Key source markets include Türkiye, Germany, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom. Arab visitor numbers were mainly driven by arrivals from Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.
Exhibition and conference themes
STS 2026 will feature a travel trade exhibition alongside keynote speeches, panel discussions, cultural showcases and B2B matchmaking. The
conference will address a broad range of topics including tourism policy and investment, public-private partnerships, hospitality and aviation, destination marketing, inbound tourism, cultural heritage, travel technology, entrepreneurship, talent development and regional cooperation.
The exhibition floor will highlight Syrian destinations, hospitality brands, travel services, tourism products and related investment opportunities. The event will present avenues for hotel and resort developments, tourism real estate and infrastructure expansions. It also facilitates entry into Syria’s tourism sector for airlines, aviation service providers, online travel agencies, booking platforms, payment providers and travel technology firms.
Official perspective and ambitions
H.E. Mazen Al-Salhani, Syria’s Minister of Tourism, stated, “Syria’s tourism sector
is entering a new phase, underpinned by growing regional and international confidence, rising visitor demand and a clear commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment. Our ambition is to build a tourism-led economy by empowering the private sector, attracting responsible investment and developing world-class tourism experiences that showcase Syria’s unique cultural and natural assets.”
He added that the Syria Travel Show would provide a vital platform to unite investors, industry leaders and strategic partners to unlock the sector’s full potential and guide its growth trajectory.
Event scale and networking opportunities
The organisers expect more than 30 exhibitors and over 20 speakers across the event’s three days.
Approximately 5,000 attendees from regional and international markets are anticipated to participate.
STS 2026 is designed to foster partnerships that span hotel and resort development, tourism real estate, public-private partnerships, management agreements and franchising opportunities in accommodation, food and beverage, retail, wellness and visitor services.
Tour operators, destination management companies and travel agencies will have opportunities to develop new inbound tourism products covering cultural, heritage, religious, medical, wellness, adventure and experiential tourism sectors. Airlines and travel technology companies will find pathways to reconnect Syria with the wider international tourism ecosystem.
