- 14
- Apr.
- 2025
Lebanon is getting ready for a colorful Easter weekend, full of reunions and, hopefully, calm. Between the announced return of many expatriates and the timid arrival of a few tourists, the atmosphere promises to be lively in the streets and restaurants… but perhaps a little less so in the hotels.
Travel agencies are sounding the alarm: flights to Beirut are fully booked. Most airlines have resumed their flights to the Lebanese capital. However, while planes are landing in tight succession, the situation is less cheerful on the hotel front, especially outside Beirut. Pierre Achkar, president of the Federation of Tourist Syndicates and the Hotel Owners' Syndicate, told This is Beirut that hotel occupancy rates for Easter in Beirut are between 20% and 40%, well below those recorded during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. And outside Beirut? “It's miserable,” he says, a bit disheartened.
Why this relative quiet? Achkar explains that the cause might be the absence of holidays in Arab countries and the short duration of Easter break in Europe, where only Easter Monday is a public holiday. In other words, our dear expatriates don't have the luxury of grabbing their swimsuits and shorts and heading to Lebanon for just three days.
Moreover, most expatriates have homes in Lebanon, so there's no need for them to desperately seek a hotel room: they prefer to return to their balconies, their cats and… the neighborhood generator.
On the economic front, concern is palpable. Achkar reminds us that a hotel requires an annual occupancy rate of 30% to 50% to survive. Currently, we are far from that figure. He calls for the lifting of the tourist embargo on Lebanon, the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the revival of a tourism industry that supports thousands of families.
But not everything is bleak. Among guesthouses, the mood is much more positive. Ramzi Salman, president of the guesthouse sector syndicate, told This is Beirut that Palm Sunday went well for guesthouse restaurants, despite gloomy weather, and that the Easter weekend looks excellent, with a reservation rate flirting with 100% (albeit lower for room reservations). This is proof that Lebanese hospitality, especially in the villages, continues to charm those seeking a bit of authenticity… and a “good meal.”
In restaurants, it’s the same story (or the same Easter bells ringing). Khaled Nazha, vice president of the Restaurateurs' Syndicate, confirmed to This is Beirut that restaurants were full on Palm Sunday and hopes expatriates will continue to flock in—provided that the bombings cease, an essential condition to peacefully enjoy lunch under the sun.
He remains optimistic, “The Lebanese love to celebrate. Weddings, concerts, parties… If the situation stabilizes, we could see all that bloom again like a spring bouquet.”
So yes, deserted hotels, restrictions, tensions… all that weighs heavily. But Lebanon’s energy doesn’t fade. The Land of the Cedars, despite the shocks, still manages to serve coffee, a dazzling spread of mezze and a big smile—with or without electricity.
And if peace joins the table, this Easter weekend could well mark the beginning of a true resurrection… even without an official Easter egg hunt.
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