Jean Abboud, head of the Syndicate of Owners of tourism and travel agencies said that the country is enjoying a peak holiday season. “Hotel Occupancy rates in Beirut touched 98 percent during the holiday season,” Abboud said.

He said that the rates are seen in hotels in Jounieh and Hamra. However, occupancy rates in touristic areas outside Beirut like Broumana, Aley, and Bhamdoun are “still low,” he said.  

Abboud said that many airlines have doubled and even tripled trips to Lebanon, and are organizing daily flights to the country on increasing demand from tourists.
 

Hotel occupancy rates in furnished apartments also saw a steep rise. Paul Aris, head of the Syndicate of Restaurant and Nightclub owners, said that the rates “reached 90 percent.”  

Revenues for the tourism sector also rose substantially in 2009. Minister Fadi Abboud said that “tourism revenues reached $7 billion this year.”