Big challenges facing summer art festivals because of decline reservations and general insecurity

The annual summer festivals kicked off this year amidst a general degradation of the security and political situation.  L’orient le Jour spoke with the president of the Baalbek festivals, Nayla de Freige, Beit Eddine festival, Nora Jumblat and Zuk Mikhael festival, Zelfa Boueiz.  All conceded to being concerned with the security situation although they are trying to carry on with the festivals.  This, they noted, have become more challenging over the years with a noted decline in reservations this summer.  It is to be recalled that the Baalbek festivals have been re-located, for the second year, to the Casino du Liban and the Music Hall in view of the tense security situation in the Beqaa. All three interviewees noted that the financial situation of the festivals is getting worse every year especially since the Ministry of Tourism has failed to resettle its dues since 2009 and which normally should cover one third of the total cost of the festivals.  This has forced the organizers to resort to bank loans with high interest rates.  They also deplored last year’s law number 56 which increased the VAT charges on reservations from 24.7% to 36.7%.

Source: L’Orient Le Jour 23 August 2014