MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, hereinafter referred to as the “Parties,”

DESIRING to strengthen the friendly relations and mutual understanding existing between their respective countries;

CONVINCED of the importance of tourism in developing their respective economies and in advancing a deep understanding between their people;

AWARE that tourism, for reason of its socio-cultural and economic dynamism, is an excellent instrument to promote good will and to enhance the relations between the two countries;

Subject to the relevant laws, rules and regulations, procedures and policies in their respective countries, have agreed as follows:

Article One
Marketing and Promotion

1. The Parties shall work to deepen the cooperation in the field of tourism between the two countries, and shall pay special attention to cultural and historical tourism.
2. The Parties shall exchange and disseminate each other’s promotional materials, conduct familiarization trips for their tour operators, travel agents and members of the media, and participate in their national tourism fairs to promote greater awareness of each other destinations and products.

Article Two
Education and Training

The Parties shall facilitate the exchange of experts and sharing of best practices in the areas of tourism planning, marketing and promotion, human resources development and preservation of cultural areas.

Article Three
Tourism Development

The Parties shall provide each other with the relevant information such as, but not limited to, tourism development plan, statistics, legislations, laws, rules and regulations, and publications to assist in the formulation of appropriate tourism policies, development of tourism programs as well as institutional strengthening and building of their respective tourism industry.

Article Four
Tourism Investment

1. The Parties shall explore the possibility of cooperation in the area of tourism investment.
2. The Parties shall exchange the legal texts and documents related to tourism investment in the two countries and shall inform each other of their tourism investment opportunities.

Article Five
Cooperation with Other Relevant Organizations

The Parties shall promote closer cooperation between their respective tourism organizations, tourism agencies, private sector, or any other bodies connected with tourism.

Article Six
The Implementation

1. For the purpose of the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Parties have mutually agreed that the relevant authority for the Republic of the Philippines is the Department of Tourism.
2. The Parties shall create a Joint Technical Committee presided by the Deputies of the tourism governmental bodies of the two countries. The Committee shall hold consultations as may be deemed necessary in implementing this Memorandum.
3. The Committee shall establish the procedures, plan and recommend programs of cooperation to facilitate the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding.

Article Seven
Other Matters

In the field of Education and Training, the host party will bear the expenditure of accommodation and transport inside the country and the sending party will bear the expenditure of transport from and to the original country.

Done in Manila, Philippines on 25 November 2009 in two original copies in the Arabic and English languages, both being equally authentic. In case of any divergence in interpretation of this Memorandum, the English text shall prevail.

Entry into Force: November 25, 2009