Whether for business, leisure, entertainment, health or cultural tourism, visitors flocked to Lebanon in 2009, and the country is regaining its position as a major tourism destination in the Middle East. Since the onset of the global financial crisis, tourism numbers dropped not only in the Middle East, but also around the globe. In Lebanon, however, visitor numbers are reaching record highs. New hotels and restaurants are opening, investment in the tourism sector is pouring into the country and new jobs are being generated. Is Lebanon back to being the tourism and business hub of the region? Experts say that as long as security prevails, the answer to that question is a definite “Yes.” Sky-high numbers In the first nine months of this year, Lebanon received nearly 1,439,000 tourists, according to the Ministry of Tourism. This number is 46 percent higher relative to the same period in 2008, and 88
