Subscribe to newsletter

Custom Search 1

You are here

Home

Other news

Tourism sector booming, Jezzine festival launched

10-7-2019

President Michel Aoun said yesterday after his meeting with tourism minister Avedis Guidanian, that the progress in the tourism activity is mainly due to the security stability the country is experiencing. To this effect, Guidanian presented tourism activity figures during the first six months of the year, pointing to a higher rate in incoming visitors compared to the year 2010 considered one of the golden years for tourism. He said the growth rate in the number of visitors from France stood at 30% compared to the past year and 42% compared to 2010; and from Russia 127% compared to 2010, pointing also to a considerable growth in the rate of travellers from England and Germany. He mentioned an additional 100,000 tourists coming from Europe, compared to the year 2010, bringing in nearly USD 100 million to the country. The growth rate in the number of visitors from GCC countries, Guidanian explained, reached 100% against last year, with a drop by 37% from the year 2010, while from Egypt it posted 60% compared to 2010. On the other hand, Guidanian kicked off yesterday the Jezzine Summer Festivals 2019 between the months of August and September. He appealed to politicians to soften their angry public statements in pursuance of a successful touristic season that has been flagging for the past 8 years. He said the vigor of festivals has in the past supported internal tourism here in Lebanon, but that today, there should be should be more diversity and innovation in tourism. For his part, the head of the Union of Municipalities of Jezzine, Khalil Harfoush, announced the launch of an inclusive tourism plan that will turn Jezzine to a touristic destination. He declared a joint tourism initiative with Saida based on the exchange of services and tourist, especially his town boasts large hotels that can accommodate around 500 visitors/ guests. (Al Diyar, July 10, 2019)

Share on

Cannabis legalization: USD 1 billion of gains versus health challenges

9-7-2019

In its issue of today, Al Diyar newspaper wrote that at a time when some politicians engage in drafting new laws to legalize cannabis for medical uses, several unwanted challenges appear. Citing parliamentary circles opposed to the scheme, Al Diyar said the economic outcomes resulting from the legalization of cannabis, as supporting circles allege, are over-exaggerated. The far optimistic reports estimated the highest roof of financial gains at USD one billion every year, while in parallel, there is a list of drawbacks in every corner. The opposing circles questionably wondered about the side which will exclusively monitor the agriculture in the specified plantations, what is the mechanism that determines the area assigned for this crop and how to control the supply assigned for medicinal purposes. Al Diyar hinted to the mafias illicitly dominating the cultivation and the smuggling of cannabis and asked, who will ensure the regulation of production to be strictly used for medical purposes. It went on to argue that the hospitalization bill after the legalization of cannabis will surely increase as a result of the raise in the number of cannabis smokers, notwithstanding all set legal restrictions. (Al Diyar, July 9, 2019)

Share on

Private business going downhill since 6 years

9-7-2019

The BLOM Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index for June indicated a continuous decline in the business level of the private sector over the past six years, but the index remained unchanged from May’s level (46.3 points). According to the index, the downswing in recruitment in the private sector is mainly the result of constant pullback in production. The June decline rate was slightly lower than that posted in the month of May, but the pullback remained sharp compared to the levels recorded over the years. The volume of new orders in private sector companies has also shrunk in the third trimester of the year, which indicates a persistence of deterioration over more than six years. The June Index also displayed a weakening purchasing activity in companies in June, meaning that the purchase of production inputs has declined each month during the past 3 and a half years. In terms of prices, the index has shown that the cost of production inputs in private sector companies jumped for the fourth month in a row, noting that the rate of inflation did not change from May and remained generally marginal. Data has shown that the rise in the purchase of production inputs is due to a rise in prices and wages. (Al Akhbar, July 9, 2019)

Share on

Byblos summer wine festival 

8-7-2019

Under the patronage of MP Ziad Hawat and in cooperation with the Municipality of Jbeil and Bank of Beirut, the old harbor of Byblos saw on Friday the opening of the 5th edition of the Byblos en Blanc et Rose (BBR) wine festival. On the occasion, the general director of the ministry of agriculture, Louis Lahoud, boasted the high standards and quality of the Lebanese wine which promoted it to the level of ambassador to world capitals of Europe and the US, and China, soon. This, Lahoud maintained, is a result of the perseverance of local wine producers, who despite difficulties, managed to force their presence locally and internationally. Hawat, for his part, declared from Jbeil the launch of the wine tourism initiative, with this year’s slogan being, ‘supporting wine tourism in Lebanon’. This initiative, Hawat stressed, shall offer visitors the chance to explore all the Lebanese provinces, hence bolstering the wine sector. This year, Hawat said, the Lebanese wine will land in Denmark between November 4 and 7, given the importance of the Scandinavian markets, in addition to upcoming exhibitions in August over all Lebanese territories.  (Al Diyar, July 7, 2019)
 

Share on

Baalbaq flowers and crafts Festival 2019 

8-7-2019

The ministry of social affairs, jointly with the Union of Municipalities of Baalbaq, and in cooperation with the Baalbaq and Surroundings Development Association, kicked off on Friday the Flowers and Crafts Festival 2019. The 3-day event titled, ‘our joy is a flower not a bullet’, was held in Ras el Ain under the patronage of Baalbaq -Hermel mayor, Bashir Khodr, and included workshops (embroidery, pottery and accessories) for kids and women. The minister of tourism, Avedis Guidanian, toured the participating pavilions, as well as the cafes, recreational parks and restaurants sitting along the banks of Ras el Ain River. “We are prepared to face all challenges and to announce that tourism… shall live on, and so shall coexistence,” Guidanian said. On the impact of the state’s austerity scheme on planned festivals, the minister explained, “the state and festival organizers might be experiencing a financial emergency, but I repeatedly say that festivals are a key catalyst for internal tourism. Likewise, Khodr maintained that this year’s motto should be ‘restoring confidence in Baalbaq”, hinting to the improved security demonstrated by the beautiful flowers fair we are inaugurating today, as he said. (Al Diyar, July 8, 2019)
 

Share on

Death of Lebanese truck driver at Jordanian border spurs outrage

5-7-2019

The plight of Lebanese truck drivers at the border crossing with Syrian an Jordan remain. The latest disturbing news, was the death early this week of Lebanese trucker, Hassan Janbeyn, on the Jordanian border after ten days of awaiting, a development which triggered the outrage of the Union of Syndicates of Land Transport.  It is to be recalled that the crisis within the land transport sector because of high transit fees at the Syrian border, was festering, thus earlier prompting the Union to decide to take to the streets last week and to close the Lebanese-Syrian borders at the Masna3 border crossing, according to An Nahar newspaper. The protest subsequently postponed to pave the way for further negotiations. The announcement by Syrian prime minister Imad Khamis last April on reduction of the cost of land transport for Lebanese trucks (https://bit.ly/2XltOJa ), failed to calm the situation as An Nahar today reported that the fees are have not changed since then. Yesterday, the land transport union met urgently at the Labor Union premises to announce a strike for Thursday, July 11, if no action was taken by the government to resolve the impasse with Syria and Jordan.. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, July 5, 2019)
 
Previews related news:
Lebanon welcomes Syrian decision to reduce transit fees
Syria cuts transit fees on Lebanese trucks
 

Share on

Holders of Agricultural Technical Baccalaureate to enroll in public vocational schools

3-7-2019

The minister of education, Akram Shhayeb, issued yesterday Decree 245/2019 allowing the holders of the Agricultural Technical Baccalaureate to follow up their studies at the various technical and vocational institutes. Accordingly, graduates shall receive certificates of technical excellence and technical degrees from the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education. (Al Mustaqbal, July 2, 2019)

Share on

Joint Lebanese-Cypriot undertaking to attract foreign tourists

3-7-2019

The minister of tourism, Avedis Guidanian, held a series of meetings yesterday with his Cypriot counterpart who arrived in Beirut and discussed ways to bolster tourism relations between the two Mediterranean countries. Both sides studied the possibility of setting up a joint touristic resort to be marketed internationally aiming to increase the number of tourists visiting Lebanon and Cyprus. Both parties also agreed to schedule bilateral meetings during the months of July and August at the level of the two ministers on the one hand, and between tour operators on the other, in preparation for launching joint undertakings during this upcoming September. (Al Diyar, July 3, 2019)

Share on

Restaurants sector in Lebanon on world tourism map

2-7-2019

The head of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Patisseries in Lebanon, Tony Rami, stressed on June 28, that the tourism sector will continue to reflect the country’s cultural and civilized image to the world. The restaurant industry, he said, remains central in representing Lebanon on the global tourism map. Rami commended the high caliber services and products, not only of the Lebanese cuisine, but also of other diverse international gastronomies and nightlife attractions. Rami was speaking during an honoring ceremony organized by the Hospitality & Tourism Department and Adnan Kassar School of Business, LAU, in recognition of his achievements and contribution to the hospitality industry in Lebanon. Twelve other economic figures were honored as well. Among the women honorees, are, Zeina Afram, president of the Jounyeh Summer Festivals, and Pamela Mansour Mhanna, owner of MINE weddings and events planner. (Al Diyar, June 29, 2019)

Share on

Junieh Summer Festivals 2019

2-7-2019

Under the patronage of the minister of energy and water, Nada Bustani, and in the presence of the UAE ambassador to Lebanon, Hamad Saeid Shamsi, the Municipality of Junieh kicked off the Junieh Summer Festivals 2019 last Friday. Bustani toured the old souk which embraces many shops and artisan workshops, and showcases traditional Lebanese foodies. She lauded what she termed as the “folk festival which seeks to endorse the domestic industry, as well as other similar events across the country”. The ministry, Bustani maintained, sustains such development oriented festivities through implementing the electricity plan anticipated for the immediate future. For his part, Shamsi underlined the importance of the festival in strengthening Lebanon’s tourism, both internally and internationally. Likewise, Junieh mayor, Joan Hbeish, stressed the role of the festival in the revival of the town’s economy, noting that it extends far beyond its limited period. It is just the beginning, which hopefully will continue throughout the year. “Junieh will restore its touristic position, especially that we have worked to reopen the sea façade to its people to benefit from it,” Hbeish said. (Al Diyar, June 29, 2019)

Share on

Pages


Subscribe to RSS - Other news