Tourism Minister: An important and surprising tourism initiative would have taken place in Lebanon if not for the Gaza war

Tourism Minister: An important and surprising tourism initiative would have taken place in Lebanon if not for the Gaza war

Caretaker Tourism Minister Walid Nassar affirmed that air traffic has resumed in Lebanon despite the Gaza war, with global airlines resuming flights to Beirut.

Speaking on LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, he referred to the World Bank report indicating that the tourism sector in Lebanon is the top contributor to the local GDP.

He compared the current phase Lebanon is going through to the "COVID-19" stage but emphasized the difference due to the current presence of security instability.

Nassar explained that approximately 55 to 60 percent of planes arrive in Beirut, translating to about 8,000 individuals daily.

He highlighted intensive activities in tourist areas, especially in Mount Lebanon and Beirut, particularly in restaurants and entertainment fields, with 27 major Christmas activities.

Emphasizing the need to keep Lebanon away from war, Nassar stated, "resistance is not only with weapons but with everyone working in their productive sector with sustainable plans."

Regarding Douma being one of the most beautiful towns globally for tourism, he confirmed that this is due to the policies followed by the ministry and specialized projects abroad.

He stated, "Douma markets will be opened soon after restoration, and we thank Qatar for its support. We nominated Batroun for the