UK Advises Against All Travel to Lebanon Except for Essential Travel

The UK has advised, in a new update issued on Tuesday, against all travel to Lebanon except for essential travel. The statement said, "The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office now advises against all travel to Lebanon, except for essential travel and except for those areas where the Foreign Office advises against travel." Lebanon is facing a financial and economic collapse described by the World Bank as one of the deepest recessions in modern history, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive explosion in the Port of Beirut that destroyed large areas of the city and resulted in the deaths of more than 215 people. The government website indicates that it advises against travel to Palestinian refugee camps, which are located about five kilometers from the Syrian border, and to the Hermel area. Tourism has historically been a key component of the Lebanese economy but has significantly declined since late 2019. Recently, the Lebanese Minister of Tourism revealed a new slogan to attract tourists to Lebanon, which is "I Love You in Your Madness," aimed at portraying the fragility of life there as a point of pride.