The President of the Union of Restaurant, Cafés, Nightclubs, and Patisserie Owners in Lebanon, Tony Rami, announced in a statement that "the restaurant and nightlife sector witnessed a growth of 15.3% in 2024 compared to 2023, with the number of regular dining establishments increasing from 722 in 2023 to 810 in 2024 across 11 main tourist areas in Beirut, which include: Badaro, Place, Downtown, Gemmayzeh, Hamra, Mar Mikhael, Monot/Sodeco, Ashrafieh, Verdun, and Zaitunay Bay. On a national level, the sector as a whole recorded a growth of 12%." He pointed out that "with the daily developments in Lebanon, including security escalations and the risk of a comprehensive war, it is necessary to clarify with accurate figures the losses incurred by the restaurant sector through a fair comparison between July 2023 and July 2024, prior to the targeting of the southern suburbs."
The losses in the number of people visiting tourist establishments were as follows, according to the regions: Batroun: -31%, Brummana: -30%, Dbayeh and the debate area: -40%, Downtown: -23%, Ehden: +3%, Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael: -34%, Tripoli: -54%, Tyre: -24%, totaling approximately 30% in losses. He announced that "with the entry into the month of August, the figures began to worsen more and more, and we expect further losses, reaching up to 75%."
Rami directed a message to "our fellow industry makers, who have turned challenges in Lebanon into opportunities." He stated, "It is true that the restaurant sector excelled in 2023 despite the ongoing crises. We succeeded without insurance compensations following the port explosion, without exemptions, facilitation, or bank loans, but we created positive energy and ideas, and we created jobs, becoming a locomotive for all productive sectors. On this basis, the Union of Restaurant Owners held great hopes for this year's tourist season despite the threats, and we had launched the summer season from the union's office, which worked like a beehive and promoted it under the banner 'Together we strengthen our unity and renew the spirit of resilience and hope in our institutions and Lebanon.' We were mutually supportive and in solidarity, believing that we were fully prepared, with our morale high."
He continued, "Speaking about tourism in these circumstances is not merely a recreational discussion, but a purely economic and critical discourse. Today, the stage is delicate and requires a very long breath and good crisis management within your establishments to preserve our institutions, workers, and staff. With our already troubled economy, we entered the war against our will, and no one cares about our fate, but you have accustomed yourselves to overcoming difficulties with your strength and resilience." He concluded, "Let everyone know that when we are in mortal danger, we fight to live more, and we will hang the blue bead for our sector, and may God protect Lebanon."
