Redefining tourism

The tourism sector is fighting back, and the number of tourists has been on the rise for the last few years. Hotel and flight bookings indicate that this year will be promising, with visitors from various nationalities coming to the country. Gulf tourists have started returning to the country. Efforts have been focused recently by the public and private sectors to reposition the country as a premier destination for entertainment, cultural, and eco-tourism. Those efforts are bearing fruit.

THRIVING TOURISM

Two million tourists visited the country last year, registering a six percent increase compared to 2017, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT). The number of tourists is expected to increase tremendously this year, exceeding two million visitors. Tax free spending increased, Managing Director of Global Blue Lebanon. Beirut hotel occupancy of five and four star hotels has been on the rise since 2015. It grew 1.4 percentage points last year, compared to 2017, reaching a total rate of 65.1 percent, according to Ernst & Young’s ‘Middle East Hotel Benchmark Survey’. Last year’s increase was accompanied by a 2.3 percent growth in the average room rate from $184 in 2017 to $188. Revenues per available room (RevPAR) increased by 4.5 percent to $122.