So, who’s coming to Lebanon these days?

I was astounded by the cavalier way in which one business report on a local channel dealt with tourism figures. They tried to take a decidedly dismal snap shot of one sector of the economy, polish and buff it a little to make it look better than it actually is. The economic situation is decidedly bad and getting worse. We are now more reliant on remittances from Lebanese working abroad than at any other time in our history except for the darkest days of civil war. There is rarely a household in Lebanon that survives the month without some assistance from family members in the Diaspora.

The business report said that despite some Arab countries warning their citizens not to travel to Lebanon, the number of Arab tourists remained quiet significant. What they did not elaborate on was which Arabs were still traveling to Lebanon. In Blominvest’s ‘The Lebanon Brief’ of December 10 to 15, 2012, the number of tourists visiting the country fell by 16 percent up to October (I’m assuming these are the latest figures available to the bank’s research department). While the number of Arab tourists accounted for 34 percent of total tourist numbers for the year, their numbers have fallen by 17 percent overall from the previous year.

 

In fact, the number of tourists from the UAE, at one time a growth segment, was down by 33 percent this year from last year, and accounted for just ‘four percent’ of total Arab tourists. Kuwaiti tourist numbers this year fell by 29 percent from 2011 to make up just ‘nine percent’ of total Arab tourists coming into the country. I think it’s fair to say the situation could not be worse if the shooting had started.

 

In fact, Lebanon has been attractive for many Arabs, as a safe haven and a refuge that is, it has attracted middle class families fleeing Syria for example. Iraqi tourist inflows remained stable from 2011 at 27 percent, a sizable chunk. Jordanian tourists made up 19 percent despite the close links between both countries and their proximity and cultural affinity. Of course difficulty entering the country overland due to civil conflict in Syria has thwarted many from coming to Lebanon this year as it did last year. Saudis still flock to Lebanon, but even their numbers fell by an astounding 20 percent year-on-year, to just 17 percent.

When the reporter mentioned American and European tourist numbers, which are significant, what he failed to point out is how many among these incoming visitors were Lebanese with dual nationality coming home to visit family. In fact, the Lebanese settled in the US, Canada, Australia, and France, to name a few of their favored nesting grounds, are among the most prolific travelers. They shuttle back and forth from their new home to the old country, if not once and twice a year, then at least once every two years, like migrating birds with a built in compass, they flock home. When immigrants from Ireland, Italy, and Eastern Europe arrived at American shores, I doubt they were too eager to return to the home country. But it seems for the Lebanese their homeland has a stronger hold on them.

 

I know the instinct in a conservative society and among some of the conservative owners of media outlets in this country is to focus on the positive and gloss over the negative, but people are not stupid so don’t talk down to them. Be honest, even painfully so, people will thank you for it in the end.