Seven natural wonders of the world to be unveiled at 19:07 GMT, update

Polls for the world’s new seven wonders of nature closed at 11:11 GMT, with preliminary results to be announced at 19:07 GMT.

Swiss foundation New 7 Wonders of Nature organized a world-wide poll in which anyone in the world could vote via telephone, text messages or Internet social networks for their favorite sites (more…)

Lebanon a safe, stimulating vacation destination

I understood my friends’ panicked concern over my decision to explore Lebanon as Arab Spring somersaulted across the Middle East.

Passenger traffic to Lebanon drops more than 50%

Passenger traffic to Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri International Airport declined in excess of 50 percent in the first week of August compared to the same period last month, with the holy month of Ramadan and unrest in Syria playing a key role in the fall.

Air passenger traffic fell in the first week of August from a daily average of 15,000 to 7,000 which is in excess of 50 percent less than traffic recorded for the same period in the month of July.

On the other hand more people are departing. The daily average of passengers departing from Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut was at 10,600 in the first week of August compared 7,000 to 8,000 passengers in July. (more…)

Lebanon needs more tourists

According to a report by Al Mustaqbal Newspaper the number of tourists has dropped dramatically since a year ago. The total number of tourists in June was 177, 915 which represents 23.05 % drop from June 2010 when the total number was 231, 212 . (more…)

Lebanon needs more tourists

The mild weather is not the only reason one would be forgiven for thinking it is still spring in downtown Beirut. (more…)

Syria: Death of tourism most visible sign of major economic damage

The Ayenor boutique hotel in Damascus has a fountain splashing in its sunlit courtyard and four-poster beds in $100-a-night rooms that were usually full, until three months ago. Now, every room is empty, (more…)

Passengers stage mutiny aboard Lebanese airline

Passengers ‘mutinied’ on a flight from Heathrow after a thunderstorm left them waiting for take-off for almost seven hours.

Trouble erupted after a Beirut-bound Middle East Airlines plane, with 230 passengers aboard, had to abort a 5pm take-off on Thursday, having already missed its original 1pm departure slot. (more…)

Morocco counts cost of bombing at tourist hotspot

Morocco was counting the cost to its vital tourism industry on Friday from an explosion at a busy Marrakesh cafe that killed 15 people in an attack described by the government as a terrorist act. (more…)

Lebanon, Syria sign tourism cooperation agreement

Syria’s Tourism Minister Saadallah Agha Al-Qalaa and his Lebanese counterpart Fadi Abboud signed on Monday the executive program of the tourist cooperation agreement between Syria and Lebanon for the years 2011-2015. (more…)

Lebanon tourists up 17.6% in 2010

Lebanon attracted 17.6 percent more tourists in the first 10 months of the year compared with the same period in 2009, the Daily Star reported, citing the Ministry of Tourism. (more…)