Tourism in Lebanon is slowly getting back on track. As the Fitr and Easter holidays approach, demand for flight tickets to Lebanon is rising steadily, with additional flights planned, promising a good spring season.
Indeed, “demand for tickets to Lebanon is rising steadily, and the number of flights will increase as the festive season approaches,” assured Jean Abboud, head of the travel and tourism offices syndicate. He added, however, that “this increase does not meet expectations yet, as it remains close to the figures recorded for last year's Fitr holiday.” The war between Hezbollah and Israel, which hit targets of the pro-Iranian group in South Lebanon and the Bekaa, had a very negative impact on tourism in Lebanon.
In a statement, Abboud said that “arrivals in Lebanon over the holidays will be mainly of Lebanese expatriates and those working abroad, as well as a few Arab tourists, including Iraqis, Jordanians and Egyptians.”
“We were hoping for a sharp rise in traffic, especially for the Fitr holiday, due to the significant positive developments in Lebanon.”
“However, this has not materialized in the absence of serious promotion to woo back Arab tourists,” he said. According to him, “the indicators for the Arab market are very promising, but they are unlikely to change during the upcoming holiday season.”
Abboud also recalled that in 2023, European tourists accounted for 32% of total visitors, an excellent result, and were among the first to visit Lebanon. “However, this year, there is a notable absence of this clientele, mainly because these tourists plan their trips several months or even a year ahead,” he said, stressing the need for fundamental reforms. According to him, “essential ministerial decisions must be taken in order to create a positive shock and restore confidence in Lebanon.”
Lastly, Abboud said he is hopeful about the outcome of President Joseph Aoun’s projected visit to Saudi Arabia at the head of an official delegation after the Fitr holiday. According to him, the visit should lead to the signing of several agreements between the two countries and the lifting of the travel ban on Gulf nationals. Such a move, he said, would usher in a fruitful summer season for the tourism sector.
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