It is bad news for hotels in Beirut in 2011. The slump is related to the regional and political unrest in the city. Hence the people who had initial plans to Beirut are turning towards other Middle East countries such as Syria, Turkey and Egypt. There was a global financial crisis in 2007 and this rattled the financial markets in the Arabian Peninsula.

There has also been a case of unrest in Syria as well. This is the only country that has an open border connecting to Lebanon. The country serves as a major gateway to Lebanon. However this year there has been widespread violence in Syria. Even the number of people arriving from Jordan into the Arab Republic has dropped from 31,000 in 2001 to just 5,800 in the year 2011. There has also been an increase in air traffic and this had led to decrease in the number of tourists coming by road.

There was also Ramadan from 1^st Aug to 29^th August. This also led to lesser number of tourists coming to Beirut. This is because Muslims forgo their travel plans as it is a religious month for them and they have to follow strict fasting. Hence the country’s high tourist season which is between May and September was overlapped with Ramadan. This will happen for the next seven years.

If the tourism department wants to promote the tourism sector then must intensify its promotional campaign and remove the fear of civil unrest from the minds of tourists. Travel agents should advertise in foreign countries and promote Beirut as an international destination. However the tourism ministry claims that it has tight budget for promotion. For example, less of tourist pamphlets have been distributed to foreign travel agencies. They are just lying there in the tourist office waiting to be picked up by passers by.

Tourists used to avoid Lebanon and Beirut from their itinerary because they were violence hit areas for a long time. However the city has changed a lot in the last ten years after the civil war got over in 2000. Tourists are now flocking to Beirut by the thousands. The city has been declared as the best destination for travelers in the year 2010. Since Lebanon lies on the Mediterranean coast, the climate is perfect with bright and sunny days.

Middle East has also become a relatively cheaper option than places in Europe. Hence tourists are flocking to this detonation as they can get world class facilities at almost half the costs. There have been more travelers to this region than any other place on the planet. If you want a truly authentic and different experience than the usual places then you should definitely head to Lebanon.

Lebanon has a rich history and warm people. The region is affordable and there is lots of excitement and entertainment for people. From being a war zone, Beirut has changed completely in the last ten years. The city has become peaceful and the people are very friendly. The communal riots have stopped completely and even if there are protests once in a while then they are conducted in a peaceful manner.

There are excellent hotels in Beirut for various people. You can choose from the vast array of motels as well. Lebanon is full of natural beauty such as the mountains, lakes and national parks. According to New York Times, Beirut has the best bars in the world. The city has an excellent night life that you can enjoy during your stay in Lebanon. Many people have termed Beirut as a glamorous city with cosmopolitan people and exciting night life.