Dubai: A top Lebanese government official ruled out any possibility of a military conflict in the region, despite a section of the Israeli government trying to say otherwise.
"Prove Israel wrong by visiting Lebanon. They have been trying to give the impression of another war. I can assure you, there is no possibility of a war in Lebanon," Fadi Aboud, Lebanon's Tourism Minister, told Gulf News with a smile.
Well, he has reason to smile. His country's tourism industry recorded a 39 per cent increase in international arrivals to 1.85 million last year — at a time when the global tourism industry was counting losses due to the impact of the financial meltdown.
"We are among the few countries that were not affected by the global financial crisis. This year, we expect a strong growth in international arrivals," he said.
The tourism industry, which represents 25 per cent of Lebanon's GDP (gross domestic product) is riding high due to strong demand despite political uncertainty. Strengthening political stability is expected to boost the industry's performance further. The tourism industry earned $7.2 billion (Dh26.4 billion) last year.
"We have attracted $5 billion in new investment in the tourism industry, about 40 per cent from abroad," he said.
This is expected to increase hotel capacity by roughly 30 per cent from 16,000 rooms spread across 600 hotels to 21,000 rooms by 2011.
"Last year, international tourism arrivals increased 39 per cent to 1.85 million including 45 per cent from the Arab world that represented 70 per cent of the total spend."
The Lebanese government is expected to open its skies to competition in 2012, until which its flag carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) will enjoy a monopoly, he said.
"We have an agreement to protect the national airline MEA till 2012. We want it to become more profitable before we open up the sky for private airlines," Aboud said.
MEA has reported profits of $100 million.
He said the government is planning to open two military airfields for civil aviation that will help charter airlines and new private airlines to operate.
"These will be also ideal for budget airlines," he said.
He said Lebanon is trying to liberalise the visa policy to allow more tourist flow across the Arab world.
"During the Ottoman period, people moved freely without visa formalities. Now we have to pay $200 for a single entry — this is outrageous and should be reduced to allow free movement of people across the region," he said.
"Lebanon is the most beautiful country in the world. We want people to come to Lebanon with a smile and leave with an even bigger smile."
Aboud said his government welcomes investment from the UAE and the rest of the GCC where a sizeable Lebanese business community is contributing to the region's growth.
"We want them to invest in their country now that we have a more stable government," he said.
Major Investment
Planet Group, a Dubai-based hotel and tour operator, is investing Dh1 billion in hotel development, a top official said.
“We are currently in final stage of securing about Dh900 million financing from the banks and financial institutions to accelerate construction of two major hotel projects in the UAE,” Georges Mousa, Chairman of Planet Group, told Gulf News at the Arabian Travel Market.
“Together with our investment, the total investment will exceed Dh1 billion.”
His company is also planning to start a full-service airline from Lebanon, pending necessary government approvals.
“The plan for the airline is ready. However, we will have to wait for the Lebanese Government to open up the sky for competition,” Mousa said.
The name of the airline is yet to be decided.
His company operates a travel agency with several airlines’ general sales agencies, ground handling, transport, tour operation — both inbound and outbound, and hotel management.
Mousa’s airline venture is joined by two other Gulf partners whose names have been kept secret.
