Lebanese President Michel Aoun lauded yesterday efforts to promote the tourism sector in the country via projects under preparation, including reducing the costs of incoming Middle East Airline tickets. Aoun, who was speaking during meeting with tourism minister, Avedis Guidanian, and the ministry’s director general, Nada Sardouk, disclosed that he promised a favorable touristic season and kept his promise. Aoun stressed the need to secure the safety and comfort of travelers through upgrading the services industry, pointing to a number of undertakings in this direction, most notably the expansion of Beirut’s international airport. The President also underlined the importance of winter tourism, particularly from Scandinavian countries. “Lebanon needs a lot, and the Lebanese people are very demanding,” Aoun stated, adding, “The country was left with an inopportune inheritance, mostly seen in poor roads that need rehabilitation, and we have started implementing some schemes to this effect.” For his part, Guidanian revealed high figures recorded this year by the tourism industry. The number of arrivals to Lebanon excluding Lebanese expats, Palestinians and Syrians, has reached 1,688,000 persons last year, compared to 1,300,000 until now and there are 4 more months ahead of us to the end of the year, with a limited 14% of growth, the minister said. He anticipated the number of arrivals to touch 2 million should it retain the same upward trend. )Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, September 13, 2017(