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3. The Shadow of War on the Holiday Season!

As the year-end holidays approach, Lebanese expatriates who usually rush home to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with their families are now facing a grim reality. The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is profoundly affecting Lebanon, turning it from a place of festivities and celebrations into a war zone.

This year, behind the sparkle of lights and the magic of Christmas displays lies a holiday season that appears bleak. The war between Hezbollah and Israel is not only causing a reduction in the number of travelers but is also impacting the entire tourism sector.

Jean Abboud, President of the Union of Travel Agency Owners, tells This is Beirut that reservation levels are far from ideal. He points out that only the national airline, MEA, continues to serve Lebanon, compared to 55 airlines operating flights to Beirut before the war. MEA currently operates 25 departures and 25 arrivals daily. "Last year, 70 flights arrived each day during this same period," he says. "Still, a small glimmer of hope: starting December 10, MEA flights to Beirut are at 60% capacity, which is not bad given the circumstances," says Abboud.

However, he notes that this remains minimal compared to previous years, especially since the number of flights has been reduced by more than half. He laments that tourism will not contribute to the economic cycle as it once did, pointing out that last year, tourism generated $6 billion, whereas this year, it will only bring in $2 billion.

Pierre Achkar, President of the Federation of Tourism Unions and the Hotel Union, describes the situation in the hotel sector as "catastrophic." No reservations have been made so far, and hotel occupancy rates are hovering around 0%. To cover its operating costs, a hotel needs an occupancy rate between 30% and 50%. And how will the hotels survive? He responds fatalistically, "We have vast experience managing such situations. We’re trying to self-finance, but unfortunately, some establishments will be forced to close."

Most guesthouses have closed their doors, waiting for better days. Ramzi Salman, President of the Union of Guesthouse Owners, says that some were scheduled to reopen in December, but given the circumstances, they will likely remain closed until the situation improves.

As for the restaurateurs, the vice president of their union, Khaled Naha, tells This is Beirut that compared to 2023, when establishments were fully booked throughout the holiday season and generated significant revenue, the 2024 year-end celebrations “offer no encouragement and above all, no visibility.” He hopes the conflict will end as soon as possible, estimating that "at that point, many expatriates will return to the country."

It’s worth noting that the number of passengers at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport (arrivals, departures, and transits) dropped by 19.1% in the first ten months of 2024, falling from 6.3 million in 2023 to 5.1 million in 2024. The number of tourists also declined by 24% compared to 2023.