MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Syrian economy has lost more than $5 billion during the four years of the civil war, Syrian Minister of Tourism Besher Yazji told Sputnik Turkey.
"Tourism is the most vulnerable sector of the economy, which is always the first to experience all the negative effects of military activity in the country. Over the 4 years that the crisis in Syria lasts, the country suffered a loss of more than $ 5 billion," Yazji said.
The 544 destroyed buildings of ministries, hotels and other tourist subjects make up the direct costs but there are indirect loses that cannot be counted – erased ancient quarters of Homs, Aleppo and Palmyra, he added.