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2017 summer the best in 5 years while domestic trade stagnates
31-8-2017
Despite constant warnings by economic circles of the drastic repercussion of the recent tax hikes on the national economy, particularly by the president of the Lebanese Chambers, Mohamad Choukair, who said, “we are heading towards a disaster”, the president of the Owners of Hotels in Lebanon, Wadi’ Kanaan, lauded the summer of 2017 as the best season in 5 years. Citing tourism ministry figures, Kanaan said hotel occupancy increased by 10% against last year, pointing to a great number of GCC visitors to the country. The Lebanese diaspora was at the heart of this tourism boom, with 70% occupancy by Lebanese expats followed by 10% occupied by Syrian nationals. The secretary general of the Tourism Federation, also indicated an outstanding rise beyond expectation in hotel reservations until a few days before Eid el Adha Holidays, standing at nearly 80%. The ministry of tourism anticipated a higher rate, 90%, in some regions, up to 100% occupancy in the capital, Beirut. On the other hand, Nicolas Chamas, president of the Beirut Traders Association, described as disappointing, the trade movement in the internal markets this summer, stating that the 5-year high improvement in tourist arrivals did not reflect on these markets. He expressed regret over the modest recordings of the month of August, far below any normal month of the year. Meanwhile, the real estate market in the country saw a significant recovery during the 7th month of the current year, with an increased rate of sales transactions (at 31.35%) during July 2017 reaching 6326 deals, up from 4816 in the previous month. )Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, August 28, 30, 31, 2017(
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- العربية
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