Homs, July 29 (SANA)Tourism MinisterMazen al-Salhaniinaugurated the“Joy Land” tourist resorton the Damascus-Homs highway on Wednesday, in the presence of Homs Governor Murhaf al-Naasan and several official and business representatives.

The project was inaugurated as part of efforts to support investment in the tourism sector, promote economic development and create jobs.

HomsTourism Director Loris Maqsoud told SANA that new tourism projects serve as an important economic driver by creating direct jobs in hotels, resorts, restaurants, transport and tourism services, while generating indirect employment through increased demand for local products and services, including handicrafts, agricultural products, food industries and maintenance services.

She said the projects also stimulate local markets by increasing spending on shopping, entertainment and restaurants, benefiting businesses and small enterprises.

Maqsoud added that they help attract investment in infrastructure and public services, increase national and local income, and support economic growth and income diversification.

For his part, Majd Hammam, director of the Syrian Investment Authority branch in Homs, said the province’s central location and rich natural resources make it well-positioned to become a major tourism destination.

He noted that the authority is coordinating with relevant bodies to launch additional tourism projects and will present several investment opportunities during the First Homs Business Forum, scheduled for Aug. 13.

Hammam said every investment project represents an important step toward economic recovery and reconstruction, adding that Homs requires investment across multiple sectors, including tourism, to improve services, create employment and support the national economy.

Project supervising engineer Ghazwan Qassas said the resort required an estimated $3 million in investment, covering land acquisition, licensing procedures, planning and regulatory approvals. Construction took between seven and eight months.

He said the project created around 250 jobs during construction, including engineers, supervisors, workers, craftsmen and suppliers, and currently provides about 50 jobs in its initial operational phase, with the potential for further expansion. The resort includes hotel, service and recreational facilities.

The resort, described as the first fully integrated tourist resort in Homs, is part of broader efforts to stimulate tourism investment, attract capital and strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic development by creating jobs and supporting commercial and service activity in the province.