According to the head of the Syndicate of Maritime Firms, Jean Beiruty, 80% of swimming pools/complexes did not open their doors this summer due to the crisis, reported MTV News.
He described this as a “huge disaster.”
He further expressed (in the tweet below) that the tourism sector is paying the price of the crisis, adding that this is the worst thing that ever happened to it, directly impacting the economy.
Swimming pools were allowed to reopen as of May 18th. Some of them have done so, but according to the head of maritime firms, many are undergoing the detrimental effects of the economic crisis and the pandemic.
Members in the tourism sector have been pleading for solutions. In response, Prime Minister Hassan Diab stated on June 9th that, when the airport reopens, Lebanon will focus on flights to countries in the Arabian Gulf.
Visitors from the Gulf, known to be wealthy, contribute to Lebanon’s tourism yearly. By focusing flights in that direction, Diab hopes it can revive tourism and benefit the economy.
With that said, Lebanon’s transportation minister Michel Najjar announced recently that Rafik Hariri International airport is scheduled to reopen in the first week of July.
