Tourists visit the Crusader Castle in Byblos, Lebanon, July 29, 2023. Lebanon's tourism season has exceeded all expectations, the National News Agency reported on Thursday, citing opinions of industry experts. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)
BEIRUT, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's tourism season has exceeded all expectations, the National News Agency reported on Thursday, citing opinions of industry experts.
Beirut airport receives 125 planes daily, up from 90 on regular days, with the number of arrivals exceeding 21,000 per day, the report quoted Jean Abboud, head of the Syndicate of Tourism and Travel Agencies, as saying.
According to Abboud, tourists accounted for more than 40 percent of all passenger arrivals this summer, compared to 30 percent last summer, which is very "meaningful on the economic level."
The number of Arab and foreign tourist arrivals this summer is expected to surpass 800,000, he said, adding that the total number of Arab and foreign visitors through the year will exceed 1.7 million.
The expert said there is a steady increase in European tourists, who make up more than 40 percent of total tourists to Lebanon, followed by Jordanian, Iraqi, and Egyptian visitors rallying a proportion of 35 percent.
Lebanon is in dire need of revenues generated by the tourism sector as the country faces an unprecedented economic crisis, paralleled by a political vacuum in light of the failure of political parties to elect a leader for the country. ■
A busker performs as tourists walk by in Byblos, Lebanon, July 29, 2023. Lebanon's tourism season has exceeded all expectations, the National News Agency reported on Thursday, citing opinions of industry experts. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)
Tourists visit the Crusader Castle in Byblos, Lebanon, July 29, 2023. Lebanon's tourism season has exceeded all expectations, the National News Agency reported on Thursday, citing opinions of industry experts. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)
Tourists take photos in Byblos, Lebanon, July 29, 2023. Lebanon's tourism season has exceeded all expectations, the National News Agency reported on Thursday, citing opinions of industry experts. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)
