By Wajdi Al Aridi – Al Sharq Al awsat

Beirut- Tourists coming from Gulf Arab countries were absent from the
cities and villages of Mount Lebanon this summer, as one of the
repercussions to the current crisis between Lebanon and Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) countries.

For the first time since the end of the Lebanese Civil War, tourists
coming from Gulf States were absent from the towns and villages of Aley,
Bhamdoun al-Mhatta, Sawfar and Broumana in Mount Lebanon, despite the
fact that several Gulf nationals already own houses there.

The tourist boycott also reflected on the real estate sector, head of
the Lebanese-Saudi Business Development Commission Elie Rizk said. “The probability of GCC nationals who are selling their belongings in
Lebanon has reached 70 percent in the mountainous areas and 34 percent
in Downtown Beirut,” Rizk said.

Rizk told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper: “These numbers are terrifying,”
adding that the car rentals had also dropped from 18,000 to 7,000 this
year, in addition to a decrease in hotel reservations.

During an inspection visit to several towns in Mount Lebanon, Asharq Al-Awsat found they were empty from any tourist businesses.

The mayor of Aley town, Wajdi Mrad told Asharq Al-Awsat that the
“political environment surrounding the country and the region has
deprived us from Gulf nationals.”

Owners of touristic establishments and commercial shops were angry
about the dire season, which would lead to an economic and financial
crisis in the country and would increase the levels of unemployment.

The mayor of Bhamdoun al-Mhatta, Osta Abu Rjeili said: “We miss the
brotherly people of the Gulf. We appreciate all the reasons keeping them
from visiting Lebanon at this critical stage.”
Abu Rjeili called on mending the relations between Lebanon and Gulf States.

Rizk lashed out at the Lebanese government for failing to take a
swift position against campaigns attacking Saudi Arabia and other Gulf
States.

Rizk said the campaigns launched by the so-called Hezbollah against
Saudi Arabia and the GCC states continue “despite our warnings from
attaching Lebanon to regional settlements led by Iran through its allies
in Lebanon.”