From record-highs to record-lows: The current state of Tourism in Lebanon

By Maria Wehbe, Featured Writer

May 20th, 2021

Lebanon, once known as the Paris of the Middle East, is facing difficulties upholding this title, given the turmoil and chaos it has been facing: from the economic crisis, to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, to the hyperinflation, and to put the cherry on top, the devastating 4th of August Beirut Port Explosion. Most sectors have been affected as a result of the accumulation of all of these events, yet one sector that took one of the biggest hits was the tourism sector. Indeed, COVID-19 played the biggest role in putting a halt to it, given the travel restrictions, as well as people fearing the idea of coming to Lebanon given everything that has happened over the past year or so. In fact, the number of tourist arrivals fell below 200 000 in the first half of 2020, in comparison to more than 923 000 during that same timeframe back in 2019. This industry has been faced with a very severe economic crisis and has reported a negative performance overall. Indeed, tourism is usually supported by the government, foreign tourists and local tourists. The government hasn’t been able to help given the current situation, thus isn’t providing any assistance or support. As well, foreign tourists have not been coming given the current pandemic and the instability and fragile state Lebanon is currently faced with. This leaves us with the local tourists: Lebanon has to depend on its own people in order for the sector to prosper – this is a chance for us to discover our country even more and what it truly has to offer. 

The tourism sector is a mainstay for Lebanon’s economy, and this is very problematic, given the current economic crisis that has been incredibly overwhelming for the country and its citizens. The tourism sector started facing serious threats ever since the October 17th revolution. In fact, back in 2019, Pierre Achkar, president of the Lebanese Hotel Federation for Tourism, said that more than 150 000 hotel owner, employees and partners as well as their families were facing a looming threat given the economic crisis. This was prior to the uprisings that took place in 2020: given the country’s political instability, the pandemic and economic crisis, it has become much worse. “Realistically, more than half of the touristic establishments closed down in 2020, and 50% of the workers became unemployed”, said the head of the Syndicate of Restaurant, Café, Club and Patisserie Owners in Lebanon Tony Rami. He says that this is due to the country’s poor conditions and the state’s failure to provide minimal compensation and incentives, and not even coming up with an exemption plan that would somewhat protect the sector. In addition, Lebanon’s restaurant sector is witnessing a mass emigration of investors that are finding better opportunities overseas: you can no longer find your favorite restaurants in Lebanon because they are all closing down, and this is the sad truth of living in Lebanon today. 

This is where the Lebanese citizens come in. Local tourism can be the life savior that the sector has been waiting for: in this case, it really does depend on us and our willingness to come in aid to a sector that is in desperate need of it. Even though Lebanon is taking careful steps in trying to reopen the tourism sector amidst the pandemic to foreigners, it will be hard to reel them in given the current situation the country is found in. Indeed, local tourism does present many benefits, given that the Lebanese citizens can’t really leave the country to visit others due to the pandemic, and what better excuse to discover hidden gems in your own country than this one? In fact, studies have shown that domestic tourism has the ability to stabilize the country’ economy and is dependable in terms of economic revenues. This is an alternative way of generating an income to the rural communities. 

Many NGOS and initiatives have launched projects in order to advertise local tourism and to come in aid to the sector. For instance, the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association created the longest hiking trail in Lebanon. It has organized a spring hike that is taking place from May 15th up until June 10th: it’s a series of guided hikes across the entire 470 km Lebanon Mountain Trail and all 27 sections will be hiked, from the North all the way to the South. As well, Plastic Free Lebanon, which is another NGO that aims to fight plastic pollution, organizes regular cleanups all over Lebanon and set a world record by creating the largest flag made out of recyclable material. In this way, they were able to both encourage people to conserve the country and to visit different parts of it as well. 

This is what you call eco-tourism: according to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism can be defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education”. This form of tourism is beneficial for the country in a variety of ways: people feel more challenged when engaging in ecotourism, thus showing greater interest, given that they no longer are as interested in traditional tourism as they used to be. Also, it generates income opportunities for local people, and it could encourage foreigners to come and visit the country given their eco-friendly practices. These projects that have been initiated by the Lebanese for the Lebanese are being heard of beyond Lebanon’s borders – local tourism is peaking people’s interest abroad, and that is very helpful for the sector today more than ever, because that is exactly what it needs. 

Even though the tourism sector took a very big hit over the past couple of months, one should not lose faith in it, let alone in the Lebanese citizens, who are trying to prevent it from drowning. Local Tourism has witnessed immense growth as a result of the October 17th uprisings, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut Port Explosion, and it seems that the sector might be witnessing a comeback, given all the projects and initiatives that have been launched in order to portray Lebanon’s beauty. There are so many places to visit: Beirut, Batroun, Baalbak, Sour, Byblos, Saida, Ehden, Tannourine and many more. The missing key is the Lebanese population: to show people beyond the borders what the true beauty of Lebanon is, we must discover it first and portray it.