Lebanon Tourism between Welch and Geagea Statements
Source: Al-Manar TV, 29-4-2008
Lebanese economic experts have addressed the negative impact of US Undersecretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch's recent comments about "a hot summer in Lebanon," as well as Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea's predictions of more assassinations in the country; they have severely damaged Lebanon's tourism season and the anticipated investments.
The rise of temperature in spring foreshadowed a near summer season during which a large portion of the Lebanese increase their income and prepare for next year's cold winter.
But Welch, the very good friend of some of the Lebanese in the ruling bloc, has closed the door for a profitable summer season when he brought the bad news of a hot summer in terms of political and security escalation.
"A hot summer in Lebanon means intimidation of tourists in a bid to frustrate the season since summer constitutes some 50% of the annual tourism season. A hot summer also means intimidation of investors and postponement of investments, particularly as we have been expecting investments worth more than one billion dollars during this summer season alone. Eventually, this means a loss of investments worth one billion dollars," economic expert Dr. Ghazi Wazni told Al-Manar TV.
Welch's statement was not all.
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, once again, predicted a new wave of assassinations in Lebanon during this summer season. (Lebanese Forces) Minister of Tourism in the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora, Joe Sarkis, has observed silence and refrained from releasing his usual comments about tourism preserving this resource. Sarkis has been lashing out at an opposition sit-in in a parking lot in downtown Beirut as gravely affecting tourism in Lebanon.
"If you were saying that summer season has practically begun, I can tell you that it's practically over. If we make a simple comparison today between the very high number of foreign tourists in Syria, Jordan or nearby countries and the very low number of foreign tourists in Lebanon, we find that there is sheer difference; this is due to the political situation and the random statements made inside and outside Lebanon. After Welch made his statement, a tourism guide called us up and said that a Lebanese woman who lives in Canada with her husband and two children had asked him to make reservations to Lebanon via his office in Beirut. The guide then told us that this Lebanese family had cancelled the reservations in the wake of the fiery statements and that they are scared to come to Lebanon. This is a specimen of the people who cancelled their trips to Lebanon after hearing such statements, and I say that this poses great danger to the whole tourism season in this country," the head of the Lebanese Tourism Guides' Syndicate, Haytham Fawaz told Al-Manar TV.
Moreover, some Arab states supporting the ruling bloc in Lebanon have renewed their calls for their citizens not to visit Lebanon. Of course the slogan is always: For the support of the Lebanese people and prosperity in Lebanon!
Lebanese economic experts have addressed the negative impact of US Undersecretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch's recent comments about "a hot summer in Lebanon," as well as Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea's predictions of more assassinations in the country; they have severely damaged Lebanon's tourism season and the anticipated investments.
The rise of temperature in spring foreshadowed a near summer season during which a large portion of the Lebanese increase their income and prepare for next year's cold winter.
But Welch, the very good friend of some of the Lebanese in the ruling bloc, has closed the door for a profitable summer season when he brought the bad news of a hot summer in terms of political and security escalation.
"A hot summer in Lebanon means intimidation of tourists in a bid to frustrate the season since summer constitutes some 50% of the annual tourism season. A hot summer also means intimidation of investors and postponement of investments, particularly as we have been expecting investments worth more than one billion dollars during this summer season alone. Eventually, this means a loss of investments worth one billion dollars," economic expert Dr. Ghazi Wazni told Al-Manar TV.
Welch's statement was not all.
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, once again, predicted a new wave of assassinations in Lebanon during this summer season. (Lebanese Forces) Minister of Tourism in the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora, Joe Sarkis, has observed silence and refrained from releasing his usual comments about tourism preserving this resource. Sarkis has been lashing out at an opposition sit-in in a parking lot in downtown Beirut as gravely affecting tourism in Lebanon.
"If you were saying that summer season has practically begun, I can tell you that it's practically over. If we make a simple comparison today between the very high number of foreign tourists in Syria, Jordan or nearby countries and the very low number of foreign tourists in Lebanon, we find that there is sheer difference; this is due to the political situation and the random statements made inside and outside Lebanon. After Welch made his statement, a tourism guide called us up and said that a Lebanese woman who lives in Canada with her husband and two children had asked him to make reservations to Lebanon via his office in Beirut. The guide then told us that this Lebanese family had cancelled the reservations in the wake of the fiery statements and that they are scared to come to Lebanon. This is a specimen of the people who cancelled their trips to Lebanon after hearing such statements, and I say that this poses great danger to the whole tourism season in this country," the head of the Lebanese Tourism Guides' Syndicate, Haytham Fawaz told Al-Manar TV.
Moreover, some Arab states supporting the ruling bloc in Lebanon have renewed their calls for their citizens not to visit Lebanon. Of course the slogan is always: For the support of the Lebanese people and prosperity in Lebanon!
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