It’s no day at the beach

It has been no magical mystery tour for Lebanon’s hospitality sector this summer. In advance of the year’s main vacation season, optimistic voices such as Phoenicia Hotel owner Mazen Salha had dared to hope for good tidings, political blessings and the enthusiastic return of Saudi guests after Ramadan observances. Instead, the resounding summary in August was as ominous as can be: coffin nails. Uttered by caretaker Tourism Minister Fady Abboud to describe the impact on tourism of the abduction of two Turkish pilots in Beirut, the phrase all too soon had reason to resurface. Whether foreign or domestic, any incident of terrorism was the last thing that Lebanon’s tourism sector wanted to see but as hate not fate had it, terrorist attacks against civilians struck Shiite quarters near Beirut on August 15. A week later, twin bombings that targeted worshippers in Tripoli constituted the vilest single act of shedding civilian