Beirut Hotel Occupancy Drops to 8% as Eid Tourism Fails to Materialize

Hotel occupancy in the Lebanese capital has plummeted to a range of just 7 to 8 percent, according to Pierre Al-Ashkar, head of the Tourism Syndicates Union and the Hotel Owners Syndicate in Lebanon. In a statement, Al-Ashkar confirmed that, as of now, there are no indicators pointing to any tourist activity during the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday. He noted that the widespread knowledge of empty hotels makes the prospect of early bookings highly unlikely.

Al-Ashkar expressed deep regret that the tourism sector and the national economy are losing yet another season at a time when they are in dire need of any activity that could help bolster the resilience of tourism establishments, many of which are on the verge of collapse. He clarified that occupancy rates in areas outside Beirut are even lower than those in the capital.

Limited Domestic Movement Outside the Capital

Al-Ashkar did not entirely rule out some tourism activity, suggesting that if there is any margin for optimism or hope during this period, the holiday might see some movement in domestic tourism. However, he stressed that any such activity would likely be concentrated outside of Beirut. While some regions might record a rise in bookings, the capital remains impacted by the displacement crisis and the prevailing security conditions.

He pointed out that a surge in bookings as the holiday approaches cannot be anticipated, because any security development that might arise at any moment due to the ongoing war could negatively affect the tourism landscape.

Modest Expectations and Regret Over a Different Reality

“If we expect any improvement, it might be by 5 or 6 percent or less, but this is not what we wish for tourism in Lebanon. This is not Lebanon, and this is not Lebanon’s tourism,”

Al-Ashkar stated. He affirmed that any potential movement, given the current conditions the country is experiencing and the ongoing war, will remain close to zero.