Tourism sector in Lebanon is downhill & lay off 19000 workers this year

As Safir newspaper published a report on the impact of insecurity on the economic sector in general and more specifically on tourism revealing the laying off of thousands of regular and seasonal workers most of whom were school and university students.
According to the figures gathered by As Safir, Lebanon lost by last July some 572,215 tourists thus a drop of 43.15% compared to the first seven months of 2010.  The drop in revenue from tourism during the current year is likely to exceed USD 4 billion compared to a total revenue of USD 8 billion recorded last year
According to the Research and Studies Department at the Ministry of Tourism, the total number of visitors to Lebanon during the month of July 2013 dropped by 13.52% compared with the same period in 2012 (i.e. 871,720 visitors in 2013 compared to circa 993,000 in 2012). The president of the Union of Tourism Institutions and head of the Hotel Owners Association in Lebanon, Mr. Pierre Achkar and the General Secretary of the Union of Tourism Institutions and chairman of the Syndicate of Maritime Firms, Jean Beiruty, both noted that the situation of tourism in Lebanon continues to worsen, while Achkar added that as a result, the sector has had to lay off more than 70% of its seasonal worker, namely 14000 people most of whom are students.  Hotels have thus far laid off around 25% of their total staff.  As Safir further noted that 180 restaurants located in summer resorts did not open this year adding that that 60% of those employed in these establishments were students.
Source: Al-Safir 3 September 2013