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Minister of Tourism: Festivals stimulate internal tourism only
22-7-2019
The minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian pointed out that the ministry’s budget has dropped by nearly LBP 10 billion, asking how a country can promote tourism with only USD 2 million. Guidanian was responding to Noura Jumblat who warned last week that Beitiddine Festivals were threatened with suspension anytime now. Guidanian explained that he was not against international festival planners or organizers, but that such events are not what is needed to boost tourism. They can boost internal tourism but cannot generate hard currency which is brought in by foreign visitors. He said festivals do not regulate the flow of incomers to the country. On the current tourism activity, Guidanian pointed to a growth rate in GCC and Arab visitors by 25%. The 4-star hotel occupancy rate of Arab tourists has exceeded 80% and posted between 70% and 75% in the 5-star hotels, the minister said, adding that the growth rate of European visitors reached 42%. On the other hand, the head of the Traders’ Association of Jounyeh and Kesrouan, Samy Irani, said Jounyeh International Festivals (https://bit.ly/2YqyemN) has revived commerce in the town, pointing to an extraordinary activity of Lebanese, Arab, GCC, expatriates and foreigners that reminds of the good old days. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, July 18, 22, 2019)
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