Jean Aboud, the President of the Syndicate of Tourist and Travel Offices in Lebanon, confirmed that "the activity witnessed in the tourism season since June 15 has exceeded expectations." In a statement, Aboud revealed that "all the figures regarding the large number of arrivals to Lebanon that were discussed at the beginning of the season have now become established facts." He anticipates that "the number of expatriates and tourists who have come to Lebanon from mid-June until mid-September is expected to reach one million and 800 thousand people."
He provided details on these positive developments, stating: "Since June 15, 90 flights were arriving in Lebanon daily, with an average of 180 passengers per flight, resulting in around 16,500 arrivals daily. With the increase in demand for travel to Lebanon, especially since July 3, airlines have added extra flights, raising the number of incoming flights to Beirut Airport to 110 flights per day, which is still ongoing and is expected to continue until mid-September at the same pace we witnessed in the second half of June."
He added: "If we calculate the number of passengers on the 110 flights, it becomes evident that the number of incoming passengers has increased to 19,000 per day, approximately one million and 300 thousand passengers over a period of 60 days. If we add the number of arrivals during June and September, the total number of expatriates and tourists coming to Lebanon reaches one million and 800 thousand people."
Aboud affirmed that "the vast majority of arrivals are Lebanese expatriates working abroad, while tourists constitute 25 percent of them." He noted that "a significant proportion of tourists are from Arab countries, including Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt," and revealed "promising data concerning the increase in the percentage of European tourists, which reached 28 percent of the total tourists arriving in Lebanon." He pointed out that "this reality indicates a shift in the patterns of tourism in Lebanon, which attracts European tourists who prefer eco-tourism, including biking, hiking in nature, and paragliding."
He observed that "the global tourism trend has changed, and Lebanon has succeeded in meeting this trend and attracting tourists more than before, particularly from European countries."
