Guidanian: Lebanon Classified among the Cheapest Tourist Destinations, Media Ought to Highlight PROS
SOURCE: NNA
BY: DAISY KHALIL
NNA – Caretaker Minister of Tourism, Avedis Guidanian, held a joint press conference this Friday with the President of the Unions of Tourism, Pierre El-Ashkar, the President of the Union of Restaurants, Cafes, Amusement Parks and Patisserie Owners, Tony Rami, and the President of the Beach Resort Owners Union, Jean Beiruti, to discuss the tourist situation in Lebanon.
Minister Guidanian welcomed the media coverage “for the plea to be launched today (…) as, with the kick-off of each summer season, rumors and the promotion of news that negatively affect the tourism sector start to circulate across social media platforms, which we consider important as they reach the largest group of people. Some exploit these rumors to harm the tourism sector in Lebanon.”
“I demand that Lebanon enjoy a productive summer, and I am sure that this country is capable of economic advancement through the tourism, if given the chance to,” the minister said.
“We started to hear, by the start of the summer season, about the pollution of the sea, and the claims that spending a two to three-day break in Lebanon costs more than a vacation abroad, which is not true. (…) Forbes has classified Lebanon as one of the cheapest tourist destination in the world,” he said.
Guidanian finally addressed a message to the media, asking to “pinpoint the faults in the country, but also to highlight the pros.”