Background :
Syria history is present in every step of your way. Damascus, the capital, is considered the oldest city in the world, the alphabet found carved on a mud tablet in ugarit is the first alphabet known to history.

We find in Syria the oldest buildings, the oldest language and the oldest religions.Syria was a bridge between the east and the went and a meeting place for many nations. for thousandsof years the area between the euphrates and the mediterranean was a theater for historical change.it was both a battlefield and a front where old superpowers gathered.it is here that egypt, babylonia, and the old eastern empires met.discover by yourself the remains of the civilizations of mari and ugarit, the cities of zenobia as well as those of Greece, Rome, Assyria, Sumeria and Phoenicia.enjoy the sight of great fortresses, the wonderful Islamic mosques and magnificent castles of the middle ages.
In ma,alula, the syrian village which springs from the rocks and which springs from the rocks and which witnessed the birth of christianity, the Bible stories live again. Time seems to stand still in this historic village. The language of jesus which is conveyed orally from parents to children, begin a spoken and not a written language. This pure and rich culture in a historic place inspires the visitor to discovery and wonderment.
To know Syria is to have knowledge of a legendary world. Palmyra, for example, is like a pearl in the heart of the desert; palmyra, rising from the sands, is one of the most graceful and splendid ancient sites in the east, for its glory and greatness are still evident and fully 2000years after its construction by the arab queen zenobia, it remains one of the most famous capitals of the ancient world. Throughout syria there are witnesses to the varous ages of history from the ancient roman amphitheater of bos.rain the south to the aramaic district and citadel of aleppo you will find,extending for miles, the oldest markets in the world. In the north, also, are hama with its gigantic water wheels , the citadle of St.simon with its golden ruins reflecting the evening light and the long .dead towns of qalb lozeh, Al bara and tell mardikh of ebla. All these historical gems lie in a relatively small area. not very far from the beach, crac des chevaliers thrusts its dignified mass towords the sky;a striking example of 12th century building, it continues to preserve its medieval splendour. likewise Homs with its tomb of khaled Ibn Al Walid, the splendid mosaics of Afamia and the great burial places dating from the earliest Christians. Syria attracts the tourist. just open your eyes--you are surrounded by the past.

A journey across Syria is a journey of discovery in the world of art history, culture,and human relations.
The first time visitor to Syria has a feeling of serenity,begin in a strange and singular world,with its special beauties
Here in Syria the orient starts its tradition of hospitality, greeting the tourist with a smiling face.....the farmer who presents the first pomegranate, the student who shows him the way,and the waiter who serveshim the way, and the waiter who serves him in a friendly manner.

Tolerance and hospitality constitute the essence of the Arab character and help the visitor to feel welcome in a country which takes care of its visitors.

For most visitors, the first contact with Syria starts in Damascus. This copital with its 3 millions citizens, presents a combination of the ancient and the modern.Besides its famous Omayed mosque and the old Arab souks,its museums and ancient houses, there are commercial centers, modern hotels and libraries which contain the most important manuscripts.
The visitor can easily move about, and visit all parts of the country freely.

From both the human and the cultural side there are treasures which give pleasure to the visitors to Syria.

In Syria your curiosity will be aroused. The visitor will find facilities which are comparable with the best.First class hotels with internationally famous names and excellent service are available in Damascus while Lattakia on the coast, palmyra, and alep.po also have hotels of high standards.Become ac.quainted with Arab cuisine with its richness and variety. Sample the wide range of fruits and vegetables and the excellent local drinks.

Traditional Syrian crafts.manship produces many attractive items, ideal as gifts.These include worhks in glass,copper and silver and mosaics decorated with mother of pearl. The mildness of the climate attracts the tourist,who can see many fascinating histori. cal places and relax on a Mediterranean beach where there are many resorts such as lattakia and Tartous.Syria,s charm lies in the con.trast and variety and varienty and its herit.age of historic scenes.

Economy :
Syria’s economy depends heavily on its agricultural production. The country has 4.7 million hectares (11.6 million acres) of cultivated land, accounting for 26 percent of its total land area. About one-fifth of the tilled acreage is irrigated, but extensive areas lie unused for lack of water. Irrigation is necessary even in many regions that receive substantial annual rainfall, because most of the rainfall occurs during the winter rather than during the growing season. Much of the acreage under cultivation suffers from soil exhaustion because of insufficient use of fertilizers and failure to rotate crops. The estimated national budget in 1998 included $16.1 billion in domestic revenue and $16.6 billion in expenditure. Syria is heavily dependent on aid from the major Arab oil-producing states.

Religion :
The overwhelming majority of the Syrian population is Sunni Muslim. Other Muslims include Ismailis, Shias (Shia Islam), and Alawites (a schism of the Shiite branch). Of the non-Muslims in Syria, most are Christians, primarily Greek and Armenian Orthodox. Religious minorities include Druze, who follow a religion related to Islam, and a community of approximately 1,000 Jews.

Currency and Banking :
The basic unit of currency is the Syrian pound, divided into 100 piasters (11.22 pounds equal U.S.$1; 2000 average). Syrian banking was formerly controlled by foreign companies. After the achievement of full independence in 1946, banking operations were conducted to an increasing extent by Syrian-owned banks. Until 1956 currency was issued by the largest commercial bank in Syria, the French-owned Banque de Syrie et du Liban. In that year the Syrian government established a new, state-owned bank, the Central Bank of Syria, and authorized it to issue the national currency.

Foreign Trade :
In the past, Syria imported considerably more than it exported each year. However, Syria’s closer alliance with Western nations and the Gulf States in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War (1991) stimulated high economic growth in the private sector and increased export earnings. In 2000 Syrian imports totaled $4.9 billion, and exports totaled $4.6 billion. The principal imports were manufactures of many types, including machinery, transportation equipment, iron and steel, refined petroleum, textiles, and chemical products. Syria also imported grain, livestock products, and other agricultural goods. The principal exports were petroleum, cotton and other textiles, preserved foods, beverages, tobacco, phosphates, fruits, and vegetables. The chief buyers of Syrian exports were Germany, Italy, France, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Imports were supplied chiefly by Italy, Germany, France, South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Much revenue was derived from fees charged to foreign countries for piping oil through Syria. Considerable foreign currency also came from the expenditures of the many tourists who visit the country each year. In November 1995 Syria and several other Middle Eastern and North African countries signed an agreement with the European Union to create a Mediterranean free trade zone by 2010.

Transportation and Communications :
Transportation and communications facilities in Syria are owned and operated by the state. Some 1,525 km (948 mi) of railroads connect the major cities of Syria and extend to the national frontiers of all neighboring countries except Israel. These include three relatively new lines connecting ?ims to Damascus, Damascus to ?alab, and Tartus to Al Ladhiqiyah. Syria has 43,381 km (26,956 mi) of roads, of which 23 percent are paved. In 1998 there were 30 vehicles in use for every 1,000 residents. Al Ladhiqiyah is the main seaport; port facilities at Tartus were developed in the 1980s. The national air carrier is Syrian Arab Airlines; the main international airport serves Damascus.

Telephone mainlines in Syria numbered 103 for every 1,000 inhabitants in 2000. There were 278 radio receivers per 1,000 people. Television service began in 1960, and there were 70 sets for every 1,000 Syrians in 1997. The country’s leading daily newspapers are al-Baath and al-Thawrah, published in Damascus; al-Jamahir al-Arabia, published in ?alab; and al-Fida, published in ?amah.

Government :
An interim constitution issued in 1964 (suspended in 1966) declared Syria to be a democratic socialist republic. In 1971 a provisional constitution was decreed by the head of state, General Hafez al-Assad. In 1973 a permanent constitution creating a People’s Council as the national legislature was approved by referendum. The constitution was amended in 2000.