BEIRUT, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The high demand demonstrated at the ongoing jewelry and fashion expo in Lebanon boosts confidence in the sales prospects of the country's designer fashion in the summer season.
Over 35 Lebanese fashion and jewelry designers participated in the Jewels of Beirut Expo 2023, underway from July 5th to 8th in the Lebanese capital.
Victor Azar, manager at Azar, a famous jewelry store in Beirut, said he had received great demand for his products from overseas tourists and Lebanese expatriates since the expo kicked off.
"We saw good numbers of tourists from Gulf countries and Lebanese expats from Europe and the United States buying with budgets of 1,000 U.S. dollars and above," Azar told Xinhua.
Azar said he is happy to see the "great buzz" in Lebanon this summer fueled by exhibitions and a great many international arrivals.
"We place big hopes on tourists and expats this summer," he added.
Rolando Bonja, a local jewelry designer and co-owner of Christian Bonja, told Xinhua the turnout at the exhibition is higher than expected, with most demands coming from Syrians, Kuwaitis, and Qataris who on average spend between 1,000 and 7,000 U.S. dollars per piece per person.
"I was surprised by the demand for our products," said Bonja, who came all the way from Dubai to attend the exhibition.
"People are tired from the several crises that hit Lebanon over the past years and want to feel alive again," he said.
Since October 2019, Lebanon has been witnessing the worst financial and economic crisis in its history, leading to the loss of billions of dollars in bank deposits and plunging over 80 percent of the population into poverty.
The crisis was further exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19 and the Beirut port explosions on Aug. 4, 2020, which killed over 200 people, injured thousands of others, and destroyed a big part of the city. ■
