Reported by Rania Ghanem

The
total number of visitors reached 1.7 million last year, increasing 11
percent compared to 2015, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).  “The
country has regained trust after the positive political and security
developments,” said Nada Sardouk, Director General at the MoT.  Europe
was the main source of visitors last year (564,499) recording 12
percent increase compared to 2015. French visitors topped the list of
Europeans (134,181) increasing nine percent, followed by Germans
(87,567) with 17 percent increase.  The number of Arab visitors
increased nine percent (522,922). Iraqis ranked the highest (236,013)
increasing 23 percent compared to 2015, followed by Jordanians (86,693)
recording 11 percent increase, and Egyptians (83,337) recording ten
percent increase. The number of Saudi Arabian visitors
dropped 16 percent (40,391) compared to 2015. Emiratis dropped 74
percent (2,114), and Kuwaitis dropped 20 percent (25,653). This drop was
due to the Gulf’s travel warning.  The number of visitors coming
from the Americas increased 12 percent (296,831). The main visitors
were from the United States (154,095) recording a 13 percent increase,
followed by Canadians (100,076) with a ten percent increase. Sardouk
said that the strategy set by MoT since 2014 and the promotional
campaigns launched through international and social media such as ‘Live
Love Lebanon’ and ‘Rise above Lebanon’ contributed in improving tourism.
Initiatives from the private sector also helped promote the country. he said that in previous years promotional campaigns were selling dreams, but today they are reflecting reality. The
number of visitors to touristic sites reached 514,061. Jeitta Grotto
received the largest number (186,737), followed by Byblos Castle Fort at
(90,730), and Beiteddine Palace (72,967).