Waking to a country-branding dream

With Arab and foreign visitors swarming Lebanon this summer, from the malls in Achrafieh, Dbayeh, Dora and Verdun to the clubs and restaurants in Gemmayze and downtown, and the mountain enclaves from Broumana to Bhamdoun, it is obvious to the naked eye that Lebanon is more than ever a prime vacation destination. However, this summer season stood out for more than just the growing influx of tourists that graced Lebanese shores. This past season also saw an unprecedented amount of international publicity for Lebanon and its capital city, with articles in the New York Times and Paris Match praising all the city has to offer and CNN videos declaring Beirut “the party city.”  Add to that the push to vote Jeita Grotto one of the new “wonders of the world” and you would think that Lebanon was finally having its day in the sun. Dubai’s shattered reputation On the opposite