Lebanon tourism is witnessing a positive growth trend.
The country reported that number of tourists in the month of February 2015 surged by 18.4%. The statistics also showed a significant rise in number of visiting Saudi nationals, as reported by tourism minister Michel Pharaon.
Pharaon attributed the surge in number of visitors to a relative stability of security situation and successful skiing season in the mountains.
“What is more significant is the fact that number of Saudi nationals visiting Lebanon in February has risen by 65.5% compared to the same month of last year,” said Pharaon.
Over the past three years, tourism endured a big setback due to the spillover of the Syrian war, the political standoff and above all reluctance of Arabs to visit Lebanon in light of security developments.
According to the Tourism Ministry, number of tourists coming to Lebanon in February reached 85,075 compared to 71,872 in the same month of last year. The number of Arab tourists stood at 31,191 in February 2015 compared to 26,407 in the same month of last year, an increase of 18.1%.
The ministry said Arab tourists represented 36.7% of total visitors in February. Out of the 13,875 Arab visitors in February, 4,647 came from Egypt, 4,424 from Jordan and 2,728 from Saudi Arabia. As for European tourists, they represented 33% of total visitors coming to Lebanon. French tourists topped the rank of European visitors, followed by British and Germans. Tourists from the American continent represented 12.7% of arrivals.
Source: Traveldaily