Lebanese regain their breath… The expatriate movement is active despite the fragility of the ceasefire

The Lebanese breathed a sigh of relief after the ceasefire, two months after a war that resulted in destruction, devastation, and huge losses in all sectors. Many expatriates, immediately after the ceasefire was announced, booked their tickets to spend the holiday season with their families in their country, not caring about the “fragile ceasefire” that could collapse at any moment.

Jean Abboud, head of the Syndicate of Travel and Tourism Agencies, confirms that the situation has improved after the ceasefire.
He says: If we want to compare the movement of arrivals during this period with last year, the number of arrivals reached 14,000 daily during the holiday season in 2023, but today the supply is light, as only Middle East Airlines operates flights.
He adds: However, if we want to compare the movement of arrivals to Lebanon between the war and the ceasefire stages, there is no doubt that the movement has improved and become active, but this will not result in stimulating the economy as happened last year, as many expatriates will only come to visit their families and check on them after the war, and to check on their homes or the damage that has been inflicted on them, as well as to check on their towns, and therefore, they will not come to spend money on tourism.
Abboud points out that all the arrivals are Lebanese working abroad or expatriates, and there is no tourism this year,” revealing that “during 2023, tourism contributed to the Lebanese economy by about $6 billion.
Abboud points out that starting from December 10, the planes are “full,” and a number of airlines will resume operating flights to Beirut Airport, including Jordanian, Turkish, Qatari, and Ethiopian,” adding: “Tourism and travel agencies have not been informed of anything official by the airlines, but I expect 7 or 8 companies to return to Lebanon, while there are companies that may be delayed because they have rescheduled their routes.

Aboud concludes, hoping that things will stabilize, after the work of tourism and travel agencies declined by about 75 percent during the war.