Pierre Ashkar, President of the Federation of Tourism Unions and the Hotel Syndicate, has stated "Tourism activity witnessed some improvement during July, particularly with the arrival of expatriates to Lebanon."
In a recent statement, Ashkar revealed that "hotel occupancy rates in Beirut are around 40 percent, while occupancy in mountainous regions varies, rising to about 60 percent over weekends and dropping to around 30 percent on weekdays."
Ashkar noted that "expatriates have come to Lebanon from various parts of the world, although the number of arrivals from distant areas is lower," highlighting "good occupancy rates across different tourist areas, whether mountainous or coastal, with every available area attracting visitors."
He pointed out that "the positive atmosphere in the country, especially after the recent visit of President Joseph Aoun to the White House and the communications that followed, has reassured citizens and boosted optimism."
Ashkar anticipates "further improvement in tourism activity during August, considered the peak of the tourism season," while emphasizing that "this improvement depends not only on internal conditions in Lebanon but also on regional developments, stating, 'The entire region is going through a delicate phase, and we are living day to day.'"
He concluded that "positive sentiments prevail in Lebanon today, with territories being gradually liberated and displaced persons returning to their areas, which overall enhances public optimism and encourages people to go out and spend."