UNWTO has expressed its full support to the decision of the Government of Belarus to launch the 5-day visa-free policy that will be applicable to travelers from 80 countries.
The measure aims at advancing seamless travel and attracting visitors, particularly those on business trips.
The Government of Belarus has recently decided to advance visa facilitation as a means to stimulate tourism development. The decision introduces visa-free entry at the Minsk National Airport and visa-free stay in Belarus for up to five days for the citizens of 80 states.
Among those, there are 39 countries of Europe, including the entire European Union, Brazil, Indonesia, the USA and Japan.
“Visa facilitation is among the most effective strategies to induce tourism development in a region or in a country, so we are sure that the tourism sector will experience a positive shift in Belarus,” said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai.
The promotion of seamless travel is one of UNWTO’s priorities, considering the proven capacity of visa facilitation to stimulate economic growth and job creation through tourism.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree scrapping visa requirements for residents of 80 foreign countries for a period of no more than five days, the press service of the Belarusian president reports.
“The document establishes visa-free procedures of entry into Belarus for a period no longer than five days on entry via a check point across the State Border, the Minsk National Airport, for citizens of 80 countries,” it said, specifying that the decree covers 39 European countries, including all EU countries, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, the United States and Japan.
First of all these are migrant-friendly countries, strategic partners of Belarus, states that have unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for Belarusian nationals,” the press service explained. The decree also applies to “non-citizens of Latvia and stateless persons of Estonia.
“The document is aimed at giving a boost to travels of business people, tourists, individuals having domestic passports and will not apply to foreigners making official trips: diplomatic, business, special and other passports equivalent to them will not be taken into consideration,” the press service commented.
As for the citizens of Vietnam, Haiti, Gambia, Honduras, India, China, Lebanon, Namibia and Samoa, a compulsory additional demand for them is to have in their passports a valid multi-entry visa of a EU or a Schengen zone state with a mark confirming the entry to their territory, as well as plane tickets confirming the departure from the Minsk National Airport within five days from the entry date.
These visa-free travels don’t apply to people arriving in Belarus by plane from Russia, as well as planning to fly to Russian airports (these flights are domestic and have no border controls). The decree comes into effect one month after it is published officially.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label Lebanon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lebanon. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Saturday, 4 February 2017
IRAN: American Citizens Barred From Visiting Iran In Retaliation To President Trump's Decree On Travel To USA
Iran seeks to lift visa restrictions with a number of countries in an effort to help boost the mutual tourism ties with the target countries.
The country plans to abolish visas for travelers from 36 countries, including tourists from Russia, said Iranian Vice President for Cultural Heritage and Tourism Zahra Ahmadipour.
A full list of countries is not named yet.
Currently, Russians who plan to visit Iran are obliged to obtain entry visas in advance in the consular department of the Iranian Embassy in Moscow. The term of visa issuance is less than 10 days, the fee is €35.
In July 2016, Iran increased its visa on arrival extension from 1 month to 3 months, while citizens of 190 countries can obtain visa on arrival at the country’s airports with one-month validation.
Also, the citizens of Turkey, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bolivia, Egypt, Syria and Armenia can travel to Iran and stay in the country without visa from 15 to 90 days under the visa requirement regulations.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry declared that for now, American citizens will be barred from entering their country.
The Islamic Republic announced that they have decided to bar Americans from entering their territory in response to US President Trump’s new decree to halt the entry of citizens from 7 majority Muslim countries including Iran.
“The ban is a clear insult to the Islamic world and especially to the wonderful Iranian nation,” the Iranian side said.
The country plans to abolish visas for travelers from 36 countries, including tourists from Russia, said Iranian Vice President for Cultural Heritage and Tourism Zahra Ahmadipour.
A full list of countries is not named yet.
Currently, Russians who plan to visit Iran are obliged to obtain entry visas in advance in the consular department of the Iranian Embassy in Moscow. The term of visa issuance is less than 10 days, the fee is €35.
In July 2016, Iran increased its visa on arrival extension from 1 month to 3 months, while citizens of 190 countries can obtain visa on arrival at the country’s airports with one-month validation.
Also, the citizens of Turkey, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bolivia, Egypt, Syria and Armenia can travel to Iran and stay in the country without visa from 15 to 90 days under the visa requirement regulations.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry declared that for now, American citizens will be barred from entering their country.
The Islamic Republic announced that they have decided to bar Americans from entering their territory in response to US President Trump’s new decree to halt the entry of citizens from 7 majority Muslim countries including Iran.
“The ban is a clear insult to the Islamic world and especially to the wonderful Iranian nation,” the Iranian side said.
Wednesday, 11 January 2017
TURKEY: Terror Attacks Cause Suffering To Turkey's Hospitality, Tourism And Travel Industries
But after a recent spate of violence and terrorism in the country, its tourism industry, an important part of the nation’s economy, is suffering.
Tourism accounted for a little more than 12 percent of Turkey’s gross domestic product in 2014, significantly higher than the global average of roughly 9 percent, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
But, according to a bulletin published by the Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the country saw a massive, 30 percent dropoff in the number of visits by foreigners in January through November 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
In contrast, the 2015 period was down just 1 percent from January to November 2014.
Gül Taner, a sales manager for GurTur Travel, an agency based out of Harbiye, a neighborhood in Istanbul, said that in the 25 years her company has been in business, the country has never gone through anything like the violence in 2016.
“Until last year we never seen attacks like this,” Taner said. “This is a different chapter in Turkish history.”
“Terrorist attacks are negatively affecting all sectors of Turkish life right now and not just tourism,” she said.
A New Year’s attack in an Istanbul nightclub left 39 dead, a massacre for which ISIS claimed responsibility. ISIS was also blamed by Turkish authorities for an assault at the Istanbul airport in June that killed 41 and the terror group claimed responsibility for at least two other deadly bombings in the city in 2016.
In the mass shooting at the Reina nightclub on New Year’s morning, many of those killed or injured were foreigners from a diverse array of countries including Belgium, France, India, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, according to Turkish media.
Taner said she’s hopeful that the spate of terror attacks will slow that visitors hesitant visiting the country now will change their minds.
“I will always wish good things for my country,” she said.
Saturday, 8 October 2016
JORDAN: Undiscovered Treasure
The Portland-native has been living in Jordan since autumn last year, so she's witnessed quite a few of them.
”The city is built upon hills, and as the sun drops down below them the buildings all change colour for a while, reflecting orange and red. Then you see the lights starting to come on in the houses, the warm glow of them inside – and a half hour later it's pitch black. It's a clear, crisp darkness, and you can see the stars shining across the hills.”
Wendy lives on the fifth floor of a building – high enough to enjoy the Amman sunset each night.
”There are a lot of bars and restaurants with rooftop bars too, though, where you can really feel the city change from day to night,” she says.
Wendy moved to Amman to work with humanitarian aid in Syria. But she says life in Jordan is nothing like what many Americans would expect of the Middle East.
”When I arrived in Jordan for the first time, my first impression was how modern everything was,” she remarks. ”People don't necessarily associate the Middle East with modernity.”
But for the most part, life in Jordan is like life well, anywhere else.
”The stop lights, the electricity, the water, the freeways it's all perfectly normal. A day in my life here is like a day anywhere,” she says. ”I walk to work, spend my day in the office, go out for dinner and drinks with friends, and walk home alone.”
But there are a few key differences – like how easy it is to meet people.
”When I moved to New York it took me a year to feel like I had a close group of friends,” Wendy explains. ”In Amman it was much quicker. It's very easy to talk to people."
And the social circles are more mixed, she says, than in many other cities. While many places develop separate ”expat communities”, Amman is a true melting pot.
”I was pleasantly surprised at how mixed the groups are,” she says. ”There are lots of aid workers from the US and Europe, but they hang out with locals who have grown up here, and people from Turkey and Lebanon who have ended up here. It's not segregated.”
In fact, she's never felt more welcomed in a city.
”Every single person, every shop keeper, says 'Welcome to Jordan!' when they meet a new foreigner,” Wendy informs The Local. ”And it feels very genuine. Jordanians are very hospitable and happy to have people living here.”
Even the local police go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome.
”Once I was pulled over at a routine traffic stop,” Wendy recalls. ”And the policeman just looked at me and my car full of friends and exclaimed, 'Oh, welcome to Jordan!' and let us go.”
Put simply, it's easy to live there, she says.
”All of the things we're used to in the west are right here. The electricy always works; we have street lights and good internet. There's no sacrifice, no compromise in the quality of life, and yet it's unique and interesting.”
As an aid worker who has travelled around quite a bit, Wendy says that Jordan is one of the only places she has lived where she feels she can have her friends and family come visit – not just because of how safe it is, but how much there is to do.
”There's this fascinating vibe to Amman like it's still evolving,” she says. ”There are galleries, an emerging music and art scene, and a new skate park. Recently there was a little hiphop rap festival, and there's a hip vegan brunch and popup restaurants. And now the royal family is hosting a free film festival.”
Cultural life in Amman is subtle, she says. You might not see everything that's there at a glance – you have to scratch underneath the surface.
”It's not obvious like in Beirut or Istanbul. It's not in your face. But when you seek out these Jordanian-led events, they're really cool.”
One of the higlights of her day is when the dozens of mosques throughout the city sing the call to prayer.
”I love it,” she remarks. ”Five times a day there is this great cacophany of the call to prayer, and it feels like everything slows down a bit. That's something you don't get in places like New York or somewhere else.”
There's a certain pride in Jordan, she adds – but it's humble, not arrogant.
”I really love working with Jordanians and living here,” she says. ”It's an undiscovered treasure, and when they say 'Welcome to Jordan', they mean it.”
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
IRAN: Iran And Armenia Open Borders For Cooperation
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif recently signed a memorandum on liberalization of the visa regime between the two countries in Tehran. The director of the Caucasus Institute, Alexander Iskandaryan, explained to Vestnik Kavkaza that the decision of Tehran and Yerevan came from a longstanding background: "Iran and Armenia have good-neighborly relations, which are developing in the economic and communication spheres. Iran is one of the two countries with which Armenia has open borders. Political relations between them are also quite favorable – there are many Iranian tourists and businessmen in Armenia."
Iranian citizens have prevailed among people receiving visas to Armenia for years, they are ahead of citizens of the US, Turkey, Israel, Syria, Canada, Japan, Lebanon, India and Iraq. In 2013 Armenia unilaterally ratified the visa regime for citizens of 27 EU Member States, as well as 4 non-EU members, but to which regulations of the Schengen-area apply – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland: they can visit Armenia without visas and stay in the country for 90 days.
According to Iskandaryan, the abolition of visas is advantageous for Iran in economic terms: "Relations will develop, because the process of lifting the sanctions against Iran has started, while there were economic problems between Armenia and Iran in the absence of political problems – that is, some decisions were taken, but there was a problem with money. The fact is that Iran's hands were financially tied. Now, due to the gradual removal of sanctions, Iran will feel freer in a financial sense and can continue developing its partnership."
A senior research fellow of the Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Sazhin, also praised the abolition of visas.
"When they lift the visa regime, they remove barriers to human communication. Given the fact that Armenia and Iran have thousands of years of common history [there are more than 150 thousand ethnic Armenians in Iran now], the abolition of visas is a positive thing. Recently, Armenians have visited Iran, and Iranians have visited Armenia, including on vacation. All this, of course, is also a positive thing," Sazhin told Vestnik Kavkaza.
However, according to him, there is the political aspect in this process: "Relations between Tehran and Yerevan are good both economically and politically. Despite the fact that Iran is a Muslim country, while Armenia is a Christian country, there are almost no fundamental contradictions between them. Nevertheless, the Karabakh problem exists. Iran seeks and offers itself as a mediator in resolving the very difficult relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia".
Saturday, 14 May 2016
Hezbollah Boss Mustafa Badreddin Killed In Syria
Top Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine was killed in an Israeli strike in Syria this week, the Lebanese Shia group has said.
"He took part in most of the operations of the Islamic resistance since 1982," Hezbollah said in a statement on Friday, announcing his death and describing him as a "great jihadi leader".
Badreddine, 55, was one of the highest ranking officials in the group, and believed by the US government to be responsible for Hezbollah's military operations in Syria, where it is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Mustafa Badreddine was buried in Beirut after a funeral procession in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital.
He was killed on Tuesday night, the statement said, adding that the attack targeted one of Hezbollah's bases near Damascus airport, the group's nerve-centre in the Syrian capital.
On Friday, thousands of Hezbollah supporters carried the coffin of Badreddine, draped in a Hezbollah flag, during his funeral procession in a southern suburb of Beirut.
The group said it was working to "define the nature of the explosion and its cause, and whether it was the result of an air strike, or missile attack or artillery".
Mustafa Badreddine replaced his brother-in-law Imad Mughniyah after the Hezbollah commander was killed in a car bombing in Damascus in 2008.
Israel officially denied being behind Mughniyah's killing, but Israeli media reported at the time that the Hezbollah commander had been a target of Israeli assassination attempts since the 1990s.
Mughniyah was assassinated by Israeli intelligence agents in revenge for the 2006 Lebanon War.
Earlier on Friday, the Lebanese TV station Al Mayadeen reported that Badreddine had also been killed in an Israeli attack.
However, there was no immediate response from Israel, which has attacked Hezbollah targets in Syria several times during the country's five-year conflict.
"We decline to comment," an Israeli military spokeswoman said.
Badreddine was the highest-ranking Hezbollah commander to have been killed in Syria since the conflict began five years ago.
"Some Hezbollah sources are saying that when Imad Mughniyah was killed, he was not replaced by just one man, Badreddine, but rather by several men. Nonetheless, Badreddine was a very high-ranking figure in the organisation.
"Hezbollah has suffered heavy losses in Syria, with some sources estimating that at least 1,200 fighters have died since the group started its involvement in the war. The group is weakened and some in Lebanon are wondering what Hezbollah's exit strategy is.
"Hezbollah's military intervention in Syria caused a divide in Lebanon. Some say it was totally wrong as it exposed Lebanon to threats. However, Hezbollah sees this as an existential decision because the Syrian government provides a lifeline to the group."
Badreddine was indicted by the United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon over the 2005 killing of a former prime minister, Rafik al-Hariri, and was also sanctioned by the United States.
Badreddine was sentenced to death in Kuwait for his role in bomb attacks there in 1983. He escaped from prison in Kuwait after Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, invaded the country in 1990.
"This is a pretty significant blow to Hezbollah ... He was extremely close to the Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah," Levitt said.
"He took part in most of the operations of the Islamic resistance since 1982," Hezbollah said in a statement on Friday, announcing his death and describing him as a "great jihadi leader".
Badreddine, 55, was one of the highest ranking officials in the group, and believed by the US government to be responsible for Hezbollah's military operations in Syria, where it is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Mustafa Badreddine was buried in Beirut after a funeral procession in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital.
He was killed on Tuesday night, the statement said, adding that the attack targeted one of Hezbollah's bases near Damascus airport, the group's nerve-centre in the Syrian capital.
On Friday, thousands of Hezbollah supporters carried the coffin of Badreddine, draped in a Hezbollah flag, during his funeral procession in a southern suburb of Beirut.
The group said it was working to "define the nature of the explosion and its cause, and whether it was the result of an air strike, or missile attack or artillery".
Mustafa Badreddine replaced his brother-in-law Imad Mughniyah after the Hezbollah commander was killed in a car bombing in Damascus in 2008.
Israel officially denied being behind Mughniyah's killing, but Israeli media reported at the time that the Hezbollah commander had been a target of Israeli assassination attempts since the 1990s.
Mughniyah was assassinated by Israeli intelligence agents in revenge for the 2006 Lebanon War.
Earlier on Friday, the Lebanese TV station Al Mayadeen reported that Badreddine had also been killed in an Israeli attack.
However, there was no immediate response from Israel, which has attacked Hezbollah targets in Syria several times during the country's five-year conflict.
"We decline to comment," an Israeli military spokeswoman said.
Badreddine was the highest-ranking Hezbollah commander to have been killed in Syria since the conflict began five years ago.
"Some Hezbollah sources are saying that when Imad Mughniyah was killed, he was not replaced by just one man, Badreddine, but rather by several men. Nonetheless, Badreddine was a very high-ranking figure in the organisation.
"Hezbollah has suffered heavy losses in Syria, with some sources estimating that at least 1,200 fighters have died since the group started its involvement in the war. The group is weakened and some in Lebanon are wondering what Hezbollah's exit strategy is.
"Hezbollah's military intervention in Syria caused a divide in Lebanon. Some say it was totally wrong as it exposed Lebanon to threats. However, Hezbollah sees this as an existential decision because the Syrian government provides a lifeline to the group."
Badreddine was indicted by the United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon over the 2005 killing of a former prime minister, Rafik al-Hariri, and was also sanctioned by the United States.
Badreddine was sentenced to death in Kuwait for his role in bomb attacks there in 1983. He escaped from prison in Kuwait after Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, invaded the country in 1990.
"This is a pretty significant blow to Hezbollah ... He was extremely close to the Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah," Levitt said.
Thursday, 21 January 2016
LEBANON: 230kg Of Drugs Destined For Qatar Seized At Beirut Airport
The ministry, which oversees the customs department, provided photos of the white pills crammed inside table beams and said 1.5 million in total were discovered late on Thursday.
There were no immediate details on who had been trying to transport them, but the statement said an investigation into the smuggling attempt was continuing.
The drugs bust comes days after Lebanese authorities detained five Saudi citizens at the airport after finding two tons of the same drug abroad a private jet bound for the Gulf kingdom.
Lebanese customs officials discovered 230kg of Captagon amphetamine pills hidden inside tables prepared for export to the Gulf state of Qatar from Beirut international airport, the finance ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The ministry, which oversees the customs department, provided photos of the white pills crammed inside table beams and said 1.5 million in total were discovered late on Thursday.
There were no immediate details on who had been trying to transport them, but the statement said an investigation into the smuggling attempt was continuing.
The drugs bust comes days after Lebanese authorities detained five Saudi citizens at the airport after finding two tons of the same drug abroad a private jet bound for the Gulf kingdom.
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
THAILAND: Aviation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration Bans Thai Flights
Fliers heading to Thailand may have fresh cause for concern after the country's airlines were hit with restrictions by U.S. aviation authorities.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that it was downgrading Thailand's aviation safety rating to Category 2 because the country did not comply with international standards.
The decision means Thai airlines will be banned from opening new routes to the United States or expanding existing ones.
While none currently operate direct routes to the U.S., the FAA's downgrades are often matched by other global aviation authorities, raising the prospect of restrictions on routes to Europe or East Asia.
Shares in several Thai airlines fell following the news.
In stripping it of the Category 1 rating it received in 1997, the FAA said Thailand's civil aviation authority failed to meet "minimum international standards."
Category 1 means that the country complies with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
The ICAO, a United Nations agency, "red flagged" Thailand in June over safety concerns, listing it alongside Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay.
The ICAO's concerns have previously led to restrictions on new airline routes linking Thailand with China, South Korea and Japan.
In response to the FAA's decision, Thailand's prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, ordered a swift overhaul of his country's aviation systems.
He acknowledged the setback could undermine confidence in the military leadership that seized power in a 2014 coup.
"Therefore, all must join hands to bring peace to the country." "Don't try to pick a quarrel, because doing so will not lead us out of crisis."
The country's leading international carrier, Thai Airways, issued a statement defending its safety record.
It said the decision would have no impact on its business or customers as it ceased its only U.S. destination flight, to Los Angeles, in October, although it continues to operate code share connections.
"Thai confirms its commitment to aviation safety standards and assures all that Thai operates with the highest international aviation safety standards," it said.
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
UNITED KINGDOM: Middle East Private Jets Worth $646.9M Up For Sale
According to Global Jet Capital, Saudi Arabia has the largest fleet of private jets in the Middle East, with 144 planes.
Three of 17 private jets owned by Lebanese businessmen are up for sale, London-based company Global Jet Capital has said.
Global Jet Capital, a provider of financing solutions for large-cabin, long-range private jets, reveals there are around 62 aircraft of this size for sale in the Middle East, with a combined value of around $646.9 million.
The report did not disclose the names of the Lebanese who own the private jets or those whose aircraft are up for sale.
“Some 19 of these [62] aircraft are registered in Saudi Arabia, and 18 are in the United Arab Emirates. The remainder is spread out across the Middle East,” Global Jet revealed in a statement.
The findings show that in total, there are around 559 mid- to large-sized private jets in the region, meaning that around 11 percent of the fleet is currently for sale.
It added that the aviation finance specialist, which recently agreed to purchase the aircraft lease and loan portfolio of GE Capital Corporate Aircraft in the Americas representing approximately $2.5 billion of net assets, has around $1 billion to lend to clients to purchase relevant business aircraft in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world.
“The aircraft Global Jet Capital funds typically cost between $25 million and $75 million each, and it says up to 80 percent of the funding used to purchase these is sourced through external financing,” the statement said.
Shawn Vick, executive director of Global Jet Capital said: “Over the long term we expect to see growth in the sale of mid- to large-sized business jets in the region, and we are well positioned to meet the finance demand to help facilitate this.”
“Many potential clients will be looking to upgrade to a more modern aircraft, but as the region’s wealth increases, we expect to see more first-time buyers,” he added.
According to the table provided by Global Jet Capital, Saudi Arabia has the largest fleet of private jets in the Middle East with 144, followed by Turkey’s 108, UAE’s 97, Kuwait’s 27, Iran’s 26, Qatar’s 24, Jordan’s 21, Lebanon’s 17, Oman’s 15 and Bahrain’s 12.
Tuesday, 25 August 2015
LEBANON: Lost Tourists Red Zone
The temple of Bacchus
Local tourism industry workers talk about the difficulties they have faced since the Egyptian revolution of 2011
The Temple of Bacchus sits regally at the centre of world-renowned ruins, as the iconic six remaining columns of the Temple of Jupiter tower majestically over the site, punctuated by the dramatic snowcapped Anti-Lebanon mountain range bordering Syria in the distance.
With no ropes or impenetrable glass barriers in sight, it is possible to touch the broken tops of columns that lie festooned throughout the site, tracing your finger along the engravings that were etched centuries ago.
However, there are no tourists at the archaeological site - which, in addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts some of the largest Roman ruins in the world. Once one of the most popular tourism destinations in Lebanon, the uprising in Syria - and the ensuing travel warnings from the United States and UK that categorised Baalbek as in the “red” or most dangerous zone due to its proximity to the border - has seen tourism grind to a screeching halt.
As a result, the local economy - which once thrived on local and international tourists visiting the ruins, eating at traditional restaurants and staying overnight at hotels - has suffered.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing this,” a cafe owner in the old souk that surrounds the ruins said, fighting back tears of happiness from seeing a visitor. “It’s so nice to see people again.”
Ruins at the temple of Bacchus in Baalbeck, Lebanon
Eating at a local restaurant, and drinking tea or coffee in one of the many cafes of the souk used to be an essential part of touring Baalbek - as tourists gathered to pose for photos or purchase souvenirs. However, now most of the traditional blue doors are closed, the windows shuttered. A few shopkeepers stand idly by, sipping coffee in an empty street and waiting for the increasingly rare tourist to be persuaded into buying a Corinthian column keychain or kitschy snow globe of the Temple of Bacchus.
Baalbek was not always like this. Travel back in time 50 or 60 years to the era known as Lebanon’s “Golden Age” and the town was bustling with tourists from around the world. Lured by the cosmopolitan nature of Beirut - at that time enjoying its reputation as the “Paris of the Middle East” - Baalbek was a natural destination for curious travellers wishing to explore the rich archive of history that the rest of the country had to offer.
Baalbek was its own cultural centre as well; during the summer, the Baalbek International Music Festival hosted worldwide sensations from Egypt’s Um Khalthoum to the US's Ella Fitzgerald, and of course, Lebanon’s iconic Fairouz. The Temple of Bacchus was their stage, the ruins of Baalbek their amphitheatre.
Like many other touristic sites in Lebanon, Baalbek's tourism economy was frozen for 15 years during and immediately following the civil war - though it enjoyed a prosperous cultural revival between the civil war and the Israel-Lebanon War in 2006. However, it was the conflict in Syria - and the perceived threat of violence spilling over the border at any moment - that made the once-thriving tourism attraction die down to only a handful of visitors per day.
Economics of tourism
Lebanon’s economy as a whole has been devastated by the absence of tourists, which, before the beginning of the Syrian Civil War was 22 percent of the country’s GDP. Although tourism numbers are up this quarter for the first time in four years, due to a particularly robust skiing season, it is not enough to turn around the deficit that the war in Syria - and the end of regional tourism - has had on Lebanon.
To respond to the crisis, Lebanese Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon has launched several initiatives, including the #LiveLoveLebanon public relations campaign that aims to counter the image of Lebanon in the international media by marketing the country as a destination for recreational tourism, advertising activities like skiing in the winter and hiking and wine tasting in the summer.
Ruins at the temple of Bacchus in Baalbeck, Lebanon
Earlier this month, another initiative with the Arab Council of Tourism nominated the ancient city of Byblos - just under 40 kilometres up the coast from Beirut - to be the Arab Tourism Capital of 2016.
“To be able to work in the interest of Jbeil [the Arabic name for Byblos] and the tourism sector in Lebanon in 2016, we pray that the minimum level of stability and political consensus are preserved,” Pharaon said in a statement.
However, little if any of these efforts have benefitted the “red zone” - areas of the country like Baalbek and the rest of the Bekaa Valley to the east, or Tripoli and the Akkar region to the north. Though these regions boast the breathtaking natural beauty and unrivaled preservation of ancient history that has drawn tourists to the Middle East for decades, their proximity to the Syrian border - and perceived proximity to the conflict, whether because of sectarian clashes as seen in Tripoli, or the overwhelming presence of Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley - has greatly discouraged visitors, both international and Lebanese, from visiting or viewing these regions as tourism destinations.
“Media has a huge role to play in this, even local media,” Zeinab Jeambey, project coordinator and communication manager for the Umayyad Project and manager for the Beirut-based NGO Food Heritage Foundation, said. “We need more articles, more documentaries and more visits [to these region] to promote the safety of these regions and their touristic potential in the eye of locals and foreigners alike.”
Thinking outside the box
In the absence of outside investment in the tourism economy of these regions, some locally based independent tourism operators have taken matters into their own hands. One example is Mira Minkara, a Tripoli native who gives independent, guided tours of the Old City, International Exhibition Fair and the seaside of Tripoli.
“My idea came when there were clashes in Tripoli between Jabal Mohsen and Tabbaneh,” Mira Minkara said.
Situated along the coast of northern Lebanon, Tripoli is Lebanon’s second-largest city - and renowned throughout the Arab world for its Mamluk architecture and historical significance due to its strategic location during the Crusader era.
However, its reputation has been marred in recent years by a recurring conflict between the Sunni Muslims of Bab el-Tabbaneh and the Alawite Muslims of Jabal Mohsen, a rivalry that dates back to the Lebanese Civil War. As the fighting in Syria intensified, and several pro- and anti-regime fighters crossed the border to fight the war, the tensions between the two neighbourhoods once again intensified, echoing the violence across the border.
Like Baalbek, Tripoli is categorised in the “red zone” by the US State Department and UK Foreign Office,though it has recently been downgraded to "orange" - which warn citizens against any travel to the region whatsoever, largely due to these clashes.
“I was really upset that something might happen in the old city,” Minkara continued. “I heard about one rocket that fell into the courtyard of a mosque and I freaked out.”
After the Lebanese army implemented a security plan in April 2014 that placed both neighbourhoods under army control, Minkara decided that the situation was calm enough to combine her knowledge and love of Tripoli and a diploma in tourism by taking foreign and local tourists on guided tours of the Old City and other attractions around Tripoli. She wanted to show them a side of Tripoli that they might not see in the media.
Although her main clientele are foreign journalists and NGO workers - in Minkara’s words “Lebanon is not receiving many tourists these days,” Minkara has nonetheless created a thriving business, with tours filling up almost every weekend.
“Of course, there are people who are still scared to go, but my tours are filling up,” she said, speaking to the fear often associated with Tripoli by both locals and foreigners. Although she is more forgiving with foreigners, she is frustrated by Lebanese perceptions of Tripoli.
“My problem with the Lebanese is that they do not make an effort to know more before going to a place - they judge it before knowing it,” she said. “People have this prejudice about Tripoli, that it’s a war zone. It’s the second largest city in Lebanon! People live here - and there haven’t been clashes for almost a year.”
Adventurous locals
Jeambey faces similar challenges, in both her position at the Umayyad Project, which proposes cultural tourism packages based on the Umayyad heritage in Baalbek and Anjar, and the Food Heritage Foundation, where she coordinates works on Darb el Karam, which takes visitors on food-oriented trips in the West Bekaa and Chouf regions of Lebanon.
“Because of the security situation, we are tapping into local tourists - and the local tourists who are really going around the country right now are hikers and nature lovers, i.e. adventurous in spirit,” she said.
Darb el Karam is situated in the western part of the Bekaa Valley bordering the Qaraoun Lake, which, unlike the northern Bekaa, has seen no violence - however Jeambey claims that even mentioning the name Bekaa carries a certain stigma - even amongst the most adventurous of local tourists.
“I know from the nature tour operators that their groups are divided in half the minute they propose a package in the Bekaa Valley,” she said.
For those willing to come, however, Darb el Karam - which translates to “Trail of Generosity” - promises tours of some of the most picturesque villages, and encounters with local farmers and food producers to discover the origins of certain ingredients and the cultural history of traditional dishes. In addition to being an educational and alternative experience for the tourist, the initiative also diversifies the income of the hosts through tourism.
“West Bekaa has a lot of touristic potential,” Jeambey continued. “It is a region that is not tapped into yet - you don’t see anarchic constructions all over the place. We are hoping to make people aware of the richness that their region has before development gets in and we lose this amazing scenery."
Local tourism industry workers talk about the difficulties they have faced since the Egyptian revolution of 2011
The Temple of Bacchus sits regally at the centre of world-renowned ruins, as the iconic six remaining columns of the Temple of Jupiter tower majestically over the site, punctuated by the dramatic snowcapped Anti-Lebanon mountain range bordering Syria in the distance.
With no ropes or impenetrable glass barriers in sight, it is possible to touch the broken tops of columns that lie festooned throughout the site, tracing your finger along the engravings that were etched centuries ago.
However, there are no tourists at the archaeological site - which, in addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts some of the largest Roman ruins in the world. Once one of the most popular tourism destinations in Lebanon, the uprising in Syria - and the ensuing travel warnings from the United States and UK that categorised Baalbek as in the “red” or most dangerous zone due to its proximity to the border - has seen tourism grind to a screeching halt.
As a result, the local economy - which once thrived on local and international tourists visiting the ruins, eating at traditional restaurants and staying overnight at hotels - has suffered.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing this,” a cafe owner in the old souk that surrounds the ruins said, fighting back tears of happiness from seeing a visitor. “It’s so nice to see people again.”
Ruins at the temple of Bacchus in Baalbeck, Lebanon
Eating at a local restaurant, and drinking tea or coffee in one of the many cafes of the souk used to be an essential part of touring Baalbek - as tourists gathered to pose for photos or purchase souvenirs. However, now most of the traditional blue doors are closed, the windows shuttered. A few shopkeepers stand idly by, sipping coffee in an empty street and waiting for the increasingly rare tourist to be persuaded into buying a Corinthian column keychain or kitschy snow globe of the Temple of Bacchus.
Baalbek was not always like this. Travel back in time 50 or 60 years to the era known as Lebanon’s “Golden Age” and the town was bustling with tourists from around the world. Lured by the cosmopolitan nature of Beirut - at that time enjoying its reputation as the “Paris of the Middle East” - Baalbek was a natural destination for curious travellers wishing to explore the rich archive of history that the rest of the country had to offer.
Baalbek was its own cultural centre as well; during the summer, the Baalbek International Music Festival hosted worldwide sensations from Egypt’s Um Khalthoum to the US's Ella Fitzgerald, and of course, Lebanon’s iconic Fairouz. The Temple of Bacchus was their stage, the ruins of Baalbek their amphitheatre.
Like many other touristic sites in Lebanon, Baalbek's tourism economy was frozen for 15 years during and immediately following the civil war - though it enjoyed a prosperous cultural revival between the civil war and the Israel-Lebanon War in 2006. However, it was the conflict in Syria - and the perceived threat of violence spilling over the border at any moment - that made the once-thriving tourism attraction die down to only a handful of visitors per day.
Economics of tourism
Lebanon’s economy as a whole has been devastated by the absence of tourists, which, before the beginning of the Syrian Civil War was 22 percent of the country’s GDP. Although tourism numbers are up this quarter for the first time in four years, due to a particularly robust skiing season, it is not enough to turn around the deficit that the war in Syria - and the end of regional tourism - has had on Lebanon.
To respond to the crisis, Lebanese Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon has launched several initiatives, including the #LiveLoveLebanon public relations campaign that aims to counter the image of Lebanon in the international media by marketing the country as a destination for recreational tourism, advertising activities like skiing in the winter and hiking and wine tasting in the summer.
Ruins at the temple of Bacchus in Baalbeck, Lebanon
Earlier this month, another initiative with the Arab Council of Tourism nominated the ancient city of Byblos - just under 40 kilometres up the coast from Beirut - to be the Arab Tourism Capital of 2016.
“To be able to work in the interest of Jbeil [the Arabic name for Byblos] and the tourism sector in Lebanon in 2016, we pray that the minimum level of stability and political consensus are preserved,” Pharaon said in a statement.
However, little if any of these efforts have benefitted the “red zone” - areas of the country like Baalbek and the rest of the Bekaa Valley to the east, or Tripoli and the Akkar region to the north. Though these regions boast the breathtaking natural beauty and unrivaled preservation of ancient history that has drawn tourists to the Middle East for decades, their proximity to the Syrian border - and perceived proximity to the conflict, whether because of sectarian clashes as seen in Tripoli, or the overwhelming presence of Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley - has greatly discouraged visitors, both international and Lebanese, from visiting or viewing these regions as tourism destinations.
“Media has a huge role to play in this, even local media,” Zeinab Jeambey, project coordinator and communication manager for the Umayyad Project and manager for the Beirut-based NGO Food Heritage Foundation, said. “We need more articles, more documentaries and more visits [to these region] to promote the safety of these regions and their touristic potential in the eye of locals and foreigners alike.”
Thinking outside the box
In the absence of outside investment in the tourism economy of these regions, some locally based independent tourism operators have taken matters into their own hands. One example is Mira Minkara, a Tripoli native who gives independent, guided tours of the Old City, International Exhibition Fair and the seaside of Tripoli.
“My idea came when there were clashes in Tripoli between Jabal Mohsen and Tabbaneh,” Mira Minkara said.
Situated along the coast of northern Lebanon, Tripoli is Lebanon’s second-largest city - and renowned throughout the Arab world for its Mamluk architecture and historical significance due to its strategic location during the Crusader era.
However, its reputation has been marred in recent years by a recurring conflict between the Sunni Muslims of Bab el-Tabbaneh and the Alawite Muslims of Jabal Mohsen, a rivalry that dates back to the Lebanese Civil War. As the fighting in Syria intensified, and several pro- and anti-regime fighters crossed the border to fight the war, the tensions between the two neighbourhoods once again intensified, echoing the violence across the border.
Like Baalbek, Tripoli is categorised in the “red zone” by the US State Department and UK Foreign Office,though it has recently been downgraded to "orange" - which warn citizens against any travel to the region whatsoever, largely due to these clashes.
“I was really upset that something might happen in the old city,” Minkara continued. “I heard about one rocket that fell into the courtyard of a mosque and I freaked out.”
After the Lebanese army implemented a security plan in April 2014 that placed both neighbourhoods under army control, Minkara decided that the situation was calm enough to combine her knowledge and love of Tripoli and a diploma in tourism by taking foreign and local tourists on guided tours of the Old City and other attractions around Tripoli. She wanted to show them a side of Tripoli that they might not see in the media.
Although her main clientele are foreign journalists and NGO workers - in Minkara’s words “Lebanon is not receiving many tourists these days,” Minkara has nonetheless created a thriving business, with tours filling up almost every weekend.
“Of course, there are people who are still scared to go, but my tours are filling up,” she said, speaking to the fear often associated with Tripoli by both locals and foreigners. Although she is more forgiving with foreigners, she is frustrated by Lebanese perceptions of Tripoli.
“My problem with the Lebanese is that they do not make an effort to know more before going to a place - they judge it before knowing it,” she said. “People have this prejudice about Tripoli, that it’s a war zone. It’s the second largest city in Lebanon! People live here - and there haven’t been clashes for almost a year.”
Adventurous locals
Jeambey faces similar challenges, in both her position at the Umayyad Project, which proposes cultural tourism packages based on the Umayyad heritage in Baalbek and Anjar, and the Food Heritage Foundation, where she coordinates works on Darb el Karam, which takes visitors on food-oriented trips in the West Bekaa and Chouf regions of Lebanon.
“Because of the security situation, we are tapping into local tourists - and the local tourists who are really going around the country right now are hikers and nature lovers, i.e. adventurous in spirit,” she said.
Darb el Karam is situated in the western part of the Bekaa Valley bordering the Qaraoun Lake, which, unlike the northern Bekaa, has seen no violence - however Jeambey claims that even mentioning the name Bekaa carries a certain stigma - even amongst the most adventurous of local tourists.
“I know from the nature tour operators that their groups are divided in half the minute they propose a package in the Bekaa Valley,” she said.
For those willing to come, however, Darb el Karam - which translates to “Trail of Generosity” - promises tours of some of the most picturesque villages, and encounters with local farmers and food producers to discover the origins of certain ingredients and the cultural history of traditional dishes. In addition to being an educational and alternative experience for the tourist, the initiative also diversifies the income of the hosts through tourism.
“West Bekaa has a lot of touristic potential,” Jeambey continued. “It is a region that is not tapped into yet - you don’t see anarchic constructions all over the place. We are hoping to make people aware of the richness that their region has before development gets in and we lose this amazing scenery."
LEBANON: Dozens Hurt As Beirut Rubbish Demos Turn On Government
Lebanese riot police fire tear gas towards protesters during clashes following a "You Stink" rally
Protesters demanding the Lebanese government resign over its failure to remove uncollected rubbish from the streets clashed on Sunday with police in Beirut for a second day, leaving dozens injured.
The demonstration in downtown Beirut turned violent when around 200 youths entered Riad al-Solh Square, hurling projectiles at security forces who responded by firing tear gas and water cannon.
Officials said 43 protesters were hospitalised while 30 members of the security forces were also injured.
It came hours after Prime Minister Tammam Salam pleaded for calm and said he was ready to meet members of the "You Stink" protest movement which blames political divisions for the crisis.
Anger about rubbish overflowing in the streets since Lebanon's largest landfill was closed on 19 July boiled over on Saturday when thousands rallied outside the prime minister's office in central Beirut.
But Saturday's peaceful demonstration turned violent as protesters pelted police with water bottles and firecrackers, and police retaliated with tear gas, water cannon and apparent gunfire. Sixteen people were injured.
In response, Salam pledged to hold accountable those responsible for using "excessive force against civil society and against the people", but violence erupted again on Sunday.
Around 200 youths, some wearing scarves or masks to cover their faces, threw stones and bottles filled with sand at police and tried to pull down security barricades.
They also set on fire a motorcycle and tried to erect their own barricades.
Police retaliated with water cannon and tear gas.
A Red Cross official said 43 protesters were injured and taken to hospital, while another 200 people were treated on the spot.
A security official said 30 members of the Internal Security Forces were also injured, one seriously.
Shots also rang out near the prime minister's office, where thousands of people had also clashed the day before. It was not immediately clear if the shots were live fire, blanks, or rubber bullets.
Protesters chanted "Down with the regime" and "Freedom", slogans borrowed from the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled several governments in the region.
One demonstrator held up a placard with a message that read "Some trash should not be recycled" and below it the pictures of more than a dozen politician.
‘Political trash'
Videos posted online by protesters showed members of the security forces firing into the air and beating the demonstrators.
The "You Stink" movement insisted they were opposed to violence and distanced themselves from those attacking security forces.
"They're not among us they're a very small group of troublemakers," said Joey Ayoub, who sits on You Stink's organising committee.
He said his movement had moved the protest from Riad al-Solh Square, where the clashes occurred, to nearby Martyrs Square "to show that we are not involved in this violence".
Ayoub said the movement's most pressing demand was for security forces to be held accountable for Saturday's use of force.
An online statement also called for the prosecution of Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnuq.
Furious demonstrators have posted videos and photos on social media of security forces firing into the air and beating back protesters during Saturday's unrest.
The prime minister tried to ease tensions, saying he was ready to meet with a You Stink delegation, saying "I am ready to listen to you and sit with you".
"We cannot allow yesterday's events to pass without accountability and follow-up," said Salam.
He called on Lebanon's cabinet to meet this week to find a solution to the crisis, railing against political divisions that have paralysed the country's institutions
Profound political rifts have kept Lebanon without a head of state since May 2014, leaving a caretaker cabinet -- also deeply divided -- in charge.
Salam said the country's trash crisis was the "straw that broke the camel's back."
"But the story is bigger than this straw. This is about the political trash in this country," he said.
Furious demonstrators have posted videos and photos on social media of security forces firing into the air and beating back protesters during the weekend's unrest.
Protesters demanding the Lebanese government resign over its failure to remove uncollected rubbish from the streets clashed on Sunday with police in Beirut for a second day, leaving dozens injured.
The demonstration in downtown Beirut turned violent when around 200 youths entered Riad al-Solh Square, hurling projectiles at security forces who responded by firing tear gas and water cannon.
Officials said 43 protesters were hospitalised while 30 members of the security forces were also injured.
It came hours after Prime Minister Tammam Salam pleaded for calm and said he was ready to meet members of the "You Stink" protest movement which blames political divisions for the crisis.
Anger about rubbish overflowing in the streets since Lebanon's largest landfill was closed on 19 July boiled over on Saturday when thousands rallied outside the prime minister's office in central Beirut.
But Saturday's peaceful demonstration turned violent as protesters pelted police with water bottles and firecrackers, and police retaliated with tear gas, water cannon and apparent gunfire. Sixteen people were injured.
In response, Salam pledged to hold accountable those responsible for using "excessive force against civil society and against the people", but violence erupted again on Sunday.
Around 200 youths, some wearing scarves or masks to cover their faces, threw stones and bottles filled with sand at police and tried to pull down security barricades.
They also set on fire a motorcycle and tried to erect their own barricades.
Police retaliated with water cannon and tear gas.
A Red Cross official said 43 protesters were injured and taken to hospital, while another 200 people were treated on the spot.
A security official said 30 members of the Internal Security Forces were also injured, one seriously.
Shots also rang out near the prime minister's office, where thousands of people had also clashed the day before. It was not immediately clear if the shots were live fire, blanks, or rubber bullets.
Protesters chanted "Down with the regime" and "Freedom", slogans borrowed from the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled several governments in the region.
One demonstrator held up a placard with a message that read "Some trash should not be recycled" and below it the pictures of more than a dozen politician.
‘Political trash'
Videos posted online by protesters showed members of the security forces firing into the air and beating the demonstrators.
The "You Stink" movement insisted they were opposed to violence and distanced themselves from those attacking security forces.
"They're not among us they're a very small group of troublemakers," said Joey Ayoub, who sits on You Stink's organising committee.
He said his movement had moved the protest from Riad al-Solh Square, where the clashes occurred, to nearby Martyrs Square "to show that we are not involved in this violence".
Ayoub said the movement's most pressing demand was for security forces to be held accountable for Saturday's use of force.
An online statement also called for the prosecution of Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnuq.
Furious demonstrators have posted videos and photos on social media of security forces firing into the air and beating back protesters during Saturday's unrest.
The prime minister tried to ease tensions, saying he was ready to meet with a You Stink delegation, saying "I am ready to listen to you and sit with you".
"We cannot allow yesterday's events to pass without accountability and follow-up," said Salam.
He called on Lebanon's cabinet to meet this week to find a solution to the crisis, railing against political divisions that have paralysed the country's institutions
Profound political rifts have kept Lebanon without a head of state since May 2014, leaving a caretaker cabinet -- also deeply divided -- in charge.
Salam said the country's trash crisis was the "straw that broke the camel's back."
"But the story is bigger than this straw. This is about the political trash in this country," he said.
Furious demonstrators have posted videos and photos on social media of security forces firing into the air and beating back protesters during the weekend's unrest.
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