Syria’s tourist playground

Unlike the heady summer of 2006, this year’s season is hardly a memorable one. It was back to business as usual, and as the summer winds down and tourists pack their bags to head home, the tourism sectors of Lebanon and Syria are no doubt pleased there actually was a summer season. That Lebanon needed a calm summer far more than Syria is a given, particularly following the July War and the ensuing 18-month political debacle. But Syria has also benefited from greater stability in Lebanon, especially when it comes to attracting tourists from the West who have a tendency to lump the Levantine countries together and avoid the region if there is a crisis. Both countries were therefore lucky that the May clashes and the resulting Doha Agreement happened when they did, giving ample time for tourists to plan a summer visit. The big difference between Lebanon and Syria’s