Lebanon must heed world bank warnings

While some of the indications of summer tourist activity in Lebanon are encouraging, we must never forget that our economy is structurally weak. The tourist season this summer could well be a stellar one, with some estimates reaching 1.6 million visitors. This is welcome news in view of the political quagmire and overall insecurity plaguing Lebanon since late 2004. It proves that, in spite of everything, Lebanon can still attract tourists and their money. No signs of political progress What is worrying at this stage is that there are no signs of political consensus on the reform package. We warned a few months ago that an over-politicization of the debate in Lebanon would deemphasize the need for economic revival. But with every World Bank or IMF warning, hope returns that international institutions will impose some sort of discipline on the economic front. Though many may see any intervention as a