Syndicate of Hotel Owners discusses cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism

The President of the Syndicate of Hotel Owners in Lebanon, Pierre Ashkar announced after a meeting yesterday with the Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon that both parties discussed ways of cooperation and agreed on a common mechanism to implement it. Ashqar revealed that the delegation of the new Syndicate Board has asked the minister for certain exemptions and for reduction of air ticket prices, particularly for Jordanian airlines to compensate for the difficulties in land travel to the Arab country which emerged because of the war in Syria, adding that MP Tammam Salam and other concerned ministers are presently attending to this matter. Ashkar further pointed out to an agreed cooperation for establishing a data center that acts as a census for hospitality jobs, and uncovered a new mechanism of coordination with the Minister of Tourism. In conclusion, Ashkar pointed out to the drop in occupancy rates in the hotel industry, lamenting a serious crisis in the sector as a result of the political turmoil, and the rise of political tensions with Arab Gulf governments. (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, February 24, 2016)