Following the decision to exempt Iraqi travelers from obtaining a visa to enter Lebanon, along with granting Iraqi visitors arriving for tourism in Beirut a free one-month stay that is renewable, informed tourism sources welcomed this move. They considered, through "Al Markazia," that "this action promotes Lebanese-Iraqi relations, especially since Iraqis ranked first in the list of tourists coming to Lebanon this summer."
In parallel, the sources expressed surprise at "the airport administration's refusal to allow a significant number of flights arriving from Iraq to land in Beirut, citing limited capacity in comparison with this large number of Iraqi flights. This is particularly concerning since the airfare has been set at only one hundred dollars, plus a 35-dollar airport fee that each traveler pays, which means securing hard currency that the country desperately needs. This currency can facilitate necessary reforms at the airport, making it available for its administration to improve its condition and explore the possibility of accommodating a larger number of travelers." They announced that they would "bring this matter to the attention of the relevant officials."
The same sources questioned "how tourism in Lebanon can be improved, knowing that some flights coming from Iraq often arrive nearly empty due to restrictions on the number permitted to land. It is understood that the presence of Iraqi tourists contributes to the revitalization of various economic sectors, so arbitrary decision-making is unacceptable, especially when it serves the public interest. Therefore, it is essential to address and rectify the conditions at the airport to accommodate the large number of Iraqi tourists." It is worth mentioning that in addition to the decision to grant entry visas to Iraqis, this month also witnesses heavy travel between Beirut and Iraq due to religious visits to Najaf.
