Resistance for all the family

Last year may have marked a renaissance for Lebanon’s tourism industry, with the 1.8 million-plus visitors far eclipsing the pre-civil war high of 1.4 million in 1974, but 2010 looks set to put it to shame: recent figures from Byblos Bank showed some 732,855 tourists entered the country in the first five months of the year, 28.6 more than in 2009. With figures like this, the draw of Beirut’s glamorous night life and upscale beach clubs, the tranquil snowcapped peaks and historic antiquities look set to earn the country a healthy sum. Last year tourism brought in some $7 billion, around 20 percent of gross domestic product. Until now, Southern Lebanon has been largely excluded from this vision, with the country’s neglected backyard better known for its role in regional conflict than its allure for sun-worshipping holidaymakers. But things might be changing. “We haven’t even scratched the surface yet,” says