Economic authorities and tourist establishment owners predict that the holiday season will bring large amounts of hard currency to the Lebanese market, which should be spent in markets, hotels and restaurants.
Iqbal and optimism
The head of the Hotel Owners Union, Pierre Ashkar, told the site "Sky News Arabia"There is a question that is in the interest of the national economy and optimism to employ the workforce and activate the interests of citizens.
He continued: "There are two types of tourists in Lebanon, and at the top of the list are those who visit the country constantly during these times and most of them are Arabs, and expats who return to spend their holidays only in their country and with family members and relatives".
Al-Ashqar has revealed that the occupancy rate in large hotels in Beirut It has significantly increased recently, and the booking rate has reached around 9,000 rooms, while outside the capital the number has risen to 17,000 during the two weeks of holidays at the end of December, and"Some of these hotels have reopened previously closed suites".
added: "Most Lebanese spend Christmas week indoors, but at the end of the year, hotels, restaurants and cafés are bustling with high attendances in and around Beirut, as well as in areas containing important tourist destinations and centres.".
According to the captain of hoteliers, ski and winter tourism sites could activate in case of snowfall in Faraya, Laqlouq and Cedars, as well as in the coastal areas of Jounieh and Batroun.
Al-Ashqar concluded his speech by saying: "We are counting on the last week of the year, and on New Year’s Eve in particular, to stimulate tourism and the hotel and restaurant sector".
Active reservations
In the same context, the deputy head of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs and Pastry Shops in Lebanon, Khaled Nazha, said the sector had high hopes for it. tourist season relatively short,"Flights are active and bookings have been completed and additional flights will be operated to accommodate the number of tourists and expats arriving in Lebanon in the coming days.".
Picnic explained to the site "Sky News Arabia": "The level of services, structures and restaurants we have is good and ready, despite the transport difficulties and the high costs of securing electricity".
added: "We are expecting Arab tourists who usually come with their families, as well as foreign tourists, but travel barriers and the lack of rapid transit lines and trains make the sector’s job difficult.".
Nezha continued: "The increase in the customs dollar from £1,500 to £15,000 affects the prices of imported raw materials and will lead to higher costs and prices. We are losing the ability to compete with, for example, Turkey and Egypt, which are close to us".
And he concluded: "We are also counting on internal tourism for the Lebanese, but this too is held back by an increase The cost of transportation Due to the high cost of fuel, depositors’ money in banks is held back".
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The imminent political situation, according to tourism operators, remains the main driver for attracting visitors and offsetting part of the losses, especially as the ski season approaches in Lebanon.
Economic authorities and tourist establishment owners predict that the holiday season will bring large amounts of hard currency to the Lebanese market, which should be spent in markets, hotels and restaurants.
Iqbal and optimism
The head of the Hotel Owners Union Pierre Al-Ashqar told Sky News Arabia that there is a demand that it is in the interest of the national economy and optimism to employ the workforce and activate the interests of the citizens.
He continued: “There are two types of tourists in Lebanon, and at the top of the list are those who visit the country consistently during these times, most of whom are Arabs, and expats who return to spend their holidays only in their country and between family members and relatives”.
Al-Ashqar has revealed that the occupancy rate in large hotels in Beirut In recent times it has increased considerably, and the rate of bookings inside it has reached around 9,000 rooms, while outside the capital the number has risen to 17,000 in the two weeks of holidays at the end of December, and «some of these hotels have reopened suites which had previously been closed”.
He added: “Most Lebanese spend Christmas week in homes, but at the end of the year, hotels, restaurants and cafes are active with high occupancy in and around Beirut as well as in areas that contain major tourist destinations and centers . “
According to the captain of hoteliers, ski and winter tourism sites could activate in case of snowfall in Faraya, Laqlouq and Cedars, as well as in the coastal areas of Jounieh and Batroun.
Al-Ashqar concluded by saying: “We are counting on the last week of the year, and on New Year’s Eve in particular, to stimulate tourism and the hotel and restaurant sector”.
Active reservations
In the same context, the deputy head of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs and Pastry Shops in Lebanon, Khaled Nazha, said the sector had high hopes for it. tourist season Relatively short, as “flights are active and bookings are complete, and additional flights will be operated to accommodate the number of tourists and expats arriving in Lebanon in the coming days”.
“The level of services, facilities and restaurants we have is good and ready, despite the difficulties of movement and the high cost of securing electricity,” Nuzha told Sky News Arabia.
“We expect Arab tourists, who usually come with their families, as well as foreign tourists, but traffic obstacles and the lack of fast lines and trains make the sector’s task difficult.”
Nazha continued: “The increase in the customs dollar from £1,500 to £15,000 affects the prices of imported raw materials and will lead to higher costs and prices. We lose the ability to compete with, for example, Turkey and the ‘Egypt, who are near us.”
He concluded: “We are also counting on domestic tourism for the Lebanese, but it is also hampered by an increase The cost of transportation Due to the high cost of fuel and the holding of depositors’ money in banks.
