The chairperson of Visit Lebanon that the year 2019 will be the decisive year for Lebanon as an attractive tourist hub for all nationalities. George Freyha who was speaking in an interview with Al Markazia electronic portal said that during the term of tourism minister Avedis Guidanian a strategic shift was made from the traditional Arab Gulf markets, that were acclaimed since the seventies, to alternative markets in various continents in line with Visit Lebanon vision. Freyha pointed out that Visit Lebanon has managed to communicate online with some 10 thousand travel agencies, conference and wedding planners around the globe. It also succeeded in turning Lebanon into an international conference event planner. He said that during the second conference this past May, the company was able to concoct more than 3,000 appointments between the Lebanese private sector and international travel operators, adding that 23 agencies have signed contracts for religious tourism with Lebanese companies for 2018. “Tourism evolution in Lebanon will come to pass,” Freyha concluded. (Al Diyar, June 29, 2018)