TOURISM IN LEBANON MAKING STEADY STRIDES

Spending by tourists in Lebanon increased by almost two percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared to Q1 the previous year, according to Global Blue’s Globe Shopper Spending Insights – January-to-march period. Against this positive backdrop, the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) concluded the second edition of ‘Visit Lebanon’, hosting 150 Arab and international tour operators from 36 different countries. Avedis Guidanian, the minister of tourism, said the aim of the event was to increase the number of tour operators visiting Lebanon and stressed the importance of diversifying the country’s tourism offering with niche segments. Religious, medical and MICE tourism are all on the radar, with specific projects in the pipeline. Minister Guidanian revealed that two websites, one for recreational and another for MICE tourism, have been activated. “We need to cooperate with embassies to open the door for tourists to facilitate their entry into Lebanon, especially those coming from India, Tunisia, Morocco, Armenia and Egypt,” he said. The minister added that the MOT was working on finding an alternative, indirect route from Latin America and Brazil, with a view to increasing the number of visitors from the latter. He also spoke about visits to Saudi Arabia and to Kuwait, which he said was on his agenda. In a separate governmental drive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs chose the Lebanese Diaspora Conference as the platform to launch the Gastrodiplomacy Initiative. The project aims to highlight local cuisine and products, while also marketing agro-industrial produce and restaurants throughout countries that host Diaspora communities. Ambassadors, councilors and commercial attachés are being urged to help restaurateurs and industrialists penetrate these markets. “Gastrodiplomacy has been a foremost activity since the launching of the first edition of the Lebanese Diaspora Energy conference five years ago,” Gebran Bassil, minister of foreign affairs, said. He highlighted the importance of promoting Lebanese products across international markets, as well as encouraging expatriates to open restaurants abroad, serving Lebanese cuisine.