Guidanian Expects Large Numbers of Arab Tourists in Summer

Lebanon is readying for a promising summer tourism season after Saudi Arabia announced the lifting of a ban on the travel of its citizens to the country.

“There is an inclination in the UAE to lift the ban on the travel of its citizens to Lebanon,” Tourism Minister Avedis Guidanian told the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Sunday.

Emirati Ambassador to Lebanon Hamad al-Shamesi had recently announced that he would seek a lifting of the UAE ban with the relevant authorities.

And as Guidanian told the daily that he does not know the exact date of the expected Emirati decision, he told the newspaper that “the preparations indicate that Gulf and Arab tourists will flock to Lebanon in large numbers this year.”

“The season is expected to begin on Eid al-Fitr and continue throughout the summer,” the minister added.

Guidanian also hoped the numbers of tourists will reach those seen in 2010, when tourism revenues represented 20% of the national income after 2.2 million tourists visited Lebanon that year among them over 40% from Arab countries.