Syria Launches Training Program for Halal Tourism Standards
The Syrian Arab Organization for Standardization and Metrology (SASMO) has officially launched a specialized training program aimed at developing the capabilities of stakeholders within the national tourism sector. The initiative, announced this week in Damascus, seeks to establish a framework for halal tourism that aligns with international benchmarks for quality, service transparency, and sustainability.
The training program is being implemented in cooperation with the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) and the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC). By fostering national expertise, the program aims to create a robust domestic system for halal certification in tourism, encompassing both dining services and general hospitality operations.
Yasser Aliwi, Director-General of SASMO, emphasized that the concept of ‘halal’ in the modern economic context has expanded beyond traditional religious requirements to incorporate essential global standards for quality management and safety. According to Aliwi, these standards are vital for enhancing the competitiveness of national products and services, facilitating trade, and gaining recognition in broader regional and international markets. The initiative is viewed as a strategic step toward integrating Syria into the global quality and standard-setting ecosystem, thereby opening new avenues for technical cooperation with partner institutions across Islamic nations.
The program is specifically designed to support industry professionals in applying these standardized requirements, which include rigorous criteria for service performance and operational transparency. For the Ministry of Tourism, this collaboration represents a significant shift toward professionalizing the sector. Sateh Yassin, an advisor to the Minister of Tourism, noted that translating these academic and technical frameworks into practical applications at tourism facilities will raise the quality of services and provide a more structured approach to the industry’s development.
Ihsan Ovut, Secretary-General of the SMIIC, stated that the program’s primary objective is to facilitate a more welcoming and professional experience for Muslim travelers visiting Syria. By standardizing practices across hotels and restaurants, the program aims to provide clearer information and higher-quality services to tourists, highlighting the country’s cultural offerings while ensuring their needs are met within a framework of international safety and quality standards.
The training sessions, which are scheduled to run until August 13, cover various facets of tourism management, service delivery, and the practical implementation of halal compliance measures. The launch follows Syria’s formal accession to the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, a move intended to unify technical standards, encourage technical support, and foster greater economic engagement with member states.
This development marks a continued effort by national institutions to modernize the tourism infrastructure, positioning it as a key pillar for economic recovery and long-term sector growth.
