Lebanon’s Tourism Responds to Increasing Political Stability
Lebanon’s efforts at nurturing political stability seem to be paying off, at least in terms of its tourism industry. According to a recent report, tourism in Lebanon hit a four-year high in 2008, with a total of 1.10 million visitors between January and October. The figure marks a significant jump from last year’s total of 855,573, and remains just shy of the 2004 record of 1.12 million. The progress is largely attributed to the improvement of the political and security situation in the nation. Lebanon exploded into violent conflict, particularly political killings, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri in 2005. In early 2008, however, the Sulayman administration began pressing heavily for commitment to national political unification, leading to the signing of an accord by the nation’s political factions in May.
Stefanie Demetriades
