Lebanon’s tourism industry is showing early signs of improvement in 2015, as visitors from the Gulf countries have been registering a strong increase with double-digit growth from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as well as Egypt and Iran.
Tourist arrivals increased for the ninth month in a row in February, up year-on-year by 20.5 per cent (175, 859 visitors) in the first two months of the year, and hotel occupancy figures for Beirut hotels are expected to hit up to 49 per cent, a report said.
“Lebanon has long been a favoured long weekend destination for GCC residents, and the added resurgence in Egyptian, and particularly, Iraqi tourists, in recent months, has created new demand,” said Nadege Noblet, exhibition manager for Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
According to a report from Bank Audi Research Centre, this is supported by a rise in passenger traffic at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, which grew by 10.24 per cent year-on-year in the first two months of 2015, recording 419,369 passenger movements, a record high for the period.
INCREASED CONNECTIVITY
In response to this, Emirates has announced a third daily flight to Beirut, fully effective on October 1 this year. The addition of this service will take the total number of weekly Emirates flights serving Lebanon to 21.
Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice-president, Commercial Operations Centre, said: “Emirates’ expanded schedule from Beirut will offer enhanced connectivity for our customers when travelling onwards to destinations in the United States and Australia, where many of the major Lebanese communities can be found, making the journey more convenient for them. The third flight’s timings will also increase connectivity to key African points in our network.”
Some of the largest Lebanese communities reside in these countries with estimates of more than 3.5 million people of Lebanese origin in the United States, according to data from the Arab American Institute.
NEW HOTELS, ROOMS
Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel recently added a new category of suites with extra-large rooftop terraces and outdoor seating lounges. Aptly named the Ambassador Suites, these are located on 11th floor of the hotel and boast modern furniture, fully equipped kitchen, spacious living rooms as well as luxury bathrooms and amenities.
Hartmut Grauel, general manager, explains, “There has been a sustained demand for a full-size apartment with a kitchen and living room. As the trend is increasing to mix business with pleasure, many business travellers also prefer such facilities to enjoy a relaxing time in a spacious setting.”
Lancaster Tamar Hotel has recently been added to the portfolio of Achour Holding. Location in the outskirts of Beirut, the hotel counts as the flagship property of the Hadat and Hazmieh regions. The hotel enjoys a truly strategic location in close proximity to the Rafic Hariri International Airport and is walking distance from Beirut City Center. The four-star superior hotel provides 151 spacious and well-equipped rooms and suites.
STEADY PERFORMANCE
Among luxury hotels already operational in Beirut, Le Gray is a contemporary classic hotel that stands out with its location in the historic downtown district and distinct style quotient, owing to renowned hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray.
The owner and founder of CampbellGray Hotels tells TTN in an exclusive interview, “Despite all that is happening in Lebanon, Le Gray continues to perform very well. I’m not saying it’s the boom days, but the market is quite resilient. We’re often 95 per cent full occupancy even now and are looking forward to a good summer.
“I think the Lebanese market is a tricky market in terms of perception. When you’re there, everything seems normal. People are eating and drinking, having fun, businesses are operating. However, underneath it all there is an anxiety and it has been there for a while.
“However, I always tell my foreign clients that I feel a lot safer in Beirut than in London or Paris. I often spend a lot of time in the city, a lot more than I need to.”
“It’s disappointing that so much of the reporting about Middle East problems are happening from Beirut, but it’s not about Beirut. It’s about Syria. In fact, a lot of this reporting is done right outside our hotel,” laments the veteran hotelier.
Building on the success, he announced three new projects in conjunction with Audeh Group, one in Amman, another in Malta and yet another in Scotland.
“Lebanon’s diverse tourism product encompasses the stylish capital of Beirut with its chic cosmopolitan ambience and reputation for luxury retail, through to trendy beach locations, stunning natural beauty and mountain ranges, ancient cities and architectural heritage. This is a solid foundation on which to rebuilt interest and drive inbound arrivals,” says Noblet.
“In April 2014, Lebanon’s Ministry of Tourism launched its ‘Live, Love, Lebanon’ campaign, and this was a clear indicator of the government’s commitment to reviving the country’s tourism prospects as a major economic driver.”