First growth in
tourism since 2010

One third of visitors are Arab nationals

Tourism increased by six percent last year, reaching around 1.3 million visitors, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT). This is the first time in three years that growth has been registered. In 2011 the number of visitors had declined by 23 percent and in 2012 the growth was negative by 17 percent. In 2013, tourists dropped by six percent than in the previous year.

In 2014, negative scores were registered during the first quarter. Growth was first recorded during the sector quarter, as a result of the relaxation of the political deadlock that led to the formation of the Cabinet in February 2014. The highest growth (over the same period last year) was registered in September with 40 percent. The MoT’s ‘Live Love Lebanon’ campaign debuting early in the summer had a good impact, according to Jean Abboud, President of Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ATTAL): “The MoT has adopted successful long term strategies and their results are being shown. There is no magic, but we are expecting better days, if security conditions remain relatively acceptable and political coherence made available.”

Arab nationals totaled 460,800 visitors, growing by 14 percent, mostly Iraqis, Jordanians and Egyptians. Abboud said that more Saudis and Kuwaitis visited last year. According to the figures provided by Joumana Ghannoum, Director of Studies & Research Department at the MoT, Saudi tourism grew by 12 percent in 2014 compared to the previous year, with nearly 45,800 visitors, compared to around 41,000. Kuwaiti tourism grew by eight percent, from 29,500 to nearly 32,000.

Europeans came second with 447,600 visitors, growing by three percent compared to last year. They mainly came from France, Germany and the UK. North and South Americans came in third place, with 224,600 entries, growing by seven percent, mainly from the US, Canada and Brazil.