Restaurant sector spiraling
following a stellar growth

Security escalation has caused sudden sharp drop

The Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs, and Pastries in Lebanon, announced that the sector has taken a nosedive after stellar growth in the past two years.

With the ongoing security escalations and the looming risk of a broader conflict, tourism establishments have seen in July drops between 30 percent to 50 percent in most touristic areas when compared to the same month of 2023. Since the beginning of August, these numbers have continued to decline, and further losses are expected, potentially reaching 75 percent.

JULY LOSSES
Batroun: -31 percent
Broumana: -30 percent
Dbayeh and Naqqash: -40 percent
Downtown: -23 percent
Ehden: +3 percent
Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael: -34 percent
Tripoli: -54 percent
Tyre: -24 percent

In total, losses amounted to approximately 30 percent.

The restaurant and nightlife sector experienced a 15.3 percent growth in 2024 compared to 2023.

The number of regular restaurant establishments increased from 722 in 2023 to 810 in 2024 across 11 key tourist areas in Beirut, including Badaro, Bliss, Downtown, Gemmayzeh, Hamra, Mar Mikhael, Monot/Sodeco, Achrafieh, Verdun, and Zaytouna Bay.

The Syndicate of Restaurant Owners had high hopes for the 2024 tourist season despite the prevailing threats.

The Syndicate said that discussions about tourism in these challenging times are not just about recreation but are a vital economic topic. It urged everyone to manage the crisis effectively to preserve institutions, workers, and staff. “With the economy already faltering, the sector has been thrust into a conflict it didn’t choose,” it said.