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2005January
2005 was a fabulous month: Christmas 2004, new years' eve and Eid El-Adha
holidays happened at the same period and thousands of Lebanese expatriates and
Arab tourists invaded hotels, furnished apartments, restaurants, pubs, discos,
shopping malls and Ski Centres . A very promising year to come.
The magic broke down on Feb. 14th. 2005. That dreadful date which witnessed the
assassination of late President Rafic Hariri, Minister Bassel Fleyhan and their
friends. Other dramatic events followed till mid-summer.
The tourism industry and restaurants witnessed a serious set-back in their
turn-over. Owners had to rely on their financial savings and bank loans to
ensure continuity.
2006 Forecasts of the Ministry of Tourism
expected more than 1'600'000 incomers to Lebanon in 2006, i.e. 30% more than in
2004! Reservations at hotels, furnished apartments, summer camps, beach and
mountain resorts, etc. started as of March 2006.
Restaurants, mainly those located in Mount-Lebanon, the north, the south and
the Bekaa, were waiting for the summer season to recover from the 2005
set-back.
And, out of nothing, the unexpected happened. Just at the start of the season,
the July 12th war ruined all hopes and expectations.
Lebanon was dramatically hit, in its population, its infrastructure and its
economy. Tourism sector is the most affected by a loss that is going to last
till confidence, stability and trust settle again in the minds of the Lebanese
expatriates, the Arab tourists and all foreign lovers of Lebanon.
On top of that, the political crisis, the assassinations, the strikes, and the
sit-ins are not helping the tourism sector to regain its stability.
Consequences Restaurants suffer severely. Some
closed definitely, some are tightening their budgets in order to survive, keep
their employees and pay for their operational expenses and taxes. No
governmental indemnities are foreseeable. Thousands of jobs are at stake.
Aim Generating a quick cash-flow for
restaurants to help them survive and keep their employees.
We are not asking for subventions or donations; we are selling our unique
services to people who love Lebanon, its hospitality, its gastronomy and who
will like to help us saving jobs.
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