Lebanon's tourism sector is facing a bleak summer as uncertainty continues to hang over the region, with the specter of war and an escalating security situation dealing a heavy blow to the travel industry.
The country would normally be entering its peak tourist season in August, but that has once again been overshadowed by regional tensions this year amid ongoing conflicts close to home. With no resolution in sight, the risk of flight cancellations has also prompted many international tourists and Lebanese travelers to postpone or completely cancel their plans.
At the iconic Pigeon Rocks in Beirut, the seaside promenade would normally be packed with tourists from Gulf countries and Europe, as well as Lebanese expatriates returning home for summer vacation.
But with the lingering conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the bustling summer scenes of the past are nowhere to be seen.
According to official statistics from Lebanon, the indirect economic losses from a standstill in tourism, catering, and hotel businesses amount to approximately 35 million U.S. dollars per day. Additionally, by the end of July, the average hotel occupancy rate in Beirut stood at just 40 percent.
"This summer has been significantly affected by the ongoing regional tensions. So the instability has impacted travel decisions, especially on international markets," said Francis Moubarak, general manager of Raouche Arjaan by Rotana, a 4-star hotel in front of the Pigeon Rocks.
Flight uncertainty is another major risk facing tourists. Although commercial flights have gradually resumed operations since early July, the volatile regional situation means flights could be canceled again at any time.
Despite the difficulties it faces, Lebanon's Minister of Tourism Laura Lahoud said the country remains a popular destination for international tourists thanks to its unique tourism resources. Local industry insiders, however, have stressed that only lasting stability can restore the confidence of travelers.
"For international tourism to recover fully, the key factors, I believe, are the regional stability, restoration of regular flight schedules and increased confidence among travelers," said Moubarak.
Lebanon's summer tourism sector suffers blow amid regional uncertainty
The newly upgraded Huanggang Port connecting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland recorded more than 3.44 million inbound and outbound passenger trips in its first month of operation, averaging 114,000 per day -- a 120 percent year-on-year increase, as Shenzhen prepares for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week.
With the event approaching, all 25 APEC-dedicated channels across Shenzhen's ports in south China have been opened to facilitate the entry of participants and media from APEC member economies.
The upgraded Huanggang Port is operating smoothly, with its single-day passenger flow recently hitting the highest level since 2019.
At Huanggang Port, travelers now only need to queue once and present their documents once to complete immigration procedures for both sides.
"Usually it takes about one minute to go through customs on both sides. My fastest time was 36 seconds," said a passenger from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Huanggang Port is the only 24-hour land passenger port between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Since November, Shenzhen's ports have opened a total of 25 APEC-dedicated inspection channels. Among them, the Huanggang Border Inspection Station has processed 14,000 trips of foreign nationals from APEC economies, a month-on-month increase of 102 percent. "Facing the continuous high passenger flow, the Huanggang Border Inspection Station has strengthened early warning and analysis, continuously enhanced communication and coordination with the Hong Kong side, cross-border operating units, and foreign affairs departments, and reinforced our multilingual service team to ensure efficient and smooth customs clearance," said Yang Huan, staff member at the Huanggang Border Inspection Station.
As China's largest single port building and the world's largest land port complex, the facility covers a total floor area of 689,700 square meters, featuring four underground and five above-ground floors.
The original Huanggang Port, which opened in 1989, was China's first large-scale land port with 24-hour clearance. Reconstruction on the original site began in 2019 to meet the surging demand for cross-border passage.
Upgraded Huanggang Port handles over 3.44 million passenger trips in first month
