Minister of Tourism in the caretaker government, Walid Nassar, pointed out several reasons for his absence from the recent government session, stating, "The most important reason was the failure to include the crime of the century on the agenda." He questioned, "Is it acceptable that after three years we do not know who was behind this explosion? We must hold those responsible accountable so that this crime is not obscured like others." Nassar's comments came during his attendance and sponsorship of the launch of the Galboun Festivals in Jbeil at "Domaine St. Gabriel." In his speech, Nassar praised the efforts of the mayor in transforming the town into a model community that includes tourism, cultural, environmental, and artistic programs. He reiterated the call to "create fair and constructive competition not only in the Jbeil district but throughout Lebanon, which motivates everyone, especially the private sector and the diaspora, who have proven to be the backbone of the economy, particularly during the past four years that Lebanon has faced a severe economic crisis."
He also praised "the efforts of the chair of the festivals committee," announcing a joint decision by the Ministries of Tourism and Environment to include the town of Galboun on the local and international tourism map as an environmentally friendly town. He added, "Lebanon is rich in tourism, environmental, and religious aspects, and despite the difficulties we face in the Ministry of Tourism regarding human resources, we cannot fulfill our duties to the fullest extent in these circumstances. Nonetheless, we do not fall short in our responsibilities and do not differentiate between one region and another." He concluded, "Since the beginning of July, the number of arrivals in Lebanon has reached one million and 153. If we continue at this pace, the number may reach two million arrivals by September 5."
