Saudi tourists dominate Lebanon spending in 2009

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by Hye4Lebanon

Is this want we want to show the world?

[joseph_lubnan]

Anyone that adheres to and respects Lebanese laws is welcome to Lebanon.
Come, visit and enjoy yourself.

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by joseph_lubnan

Anyone that adheres to and respects Lebanese laws is welcome to Lebanon.
Come, visit and enjoy yourself.

In what capacity are you making such statement ya 3aini?

[bruno]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Saudi tourists dominate Lebanon spending in 2009

By Regional Press Network (RPN)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Natalia Nasser


BEIRUT: Saudi tourists contributed over 20 percent of all tourism spending in Lebanon in the first half of 2009, showed a recent report by research firm Global Refund. Emirati and Kuwaiti citizens came second after Saudis contributing an equal 12 percent of total money spent. They were followed by Egyptian tourists who came third in terms of spending at a rate of 8 percent, and tourists from Jordan who accounted for 7 percent of total money spent.

Tourism spending was concentrated in the capital Beirut with an 82 percent share. It was followed by the Metn area which attracted 12 percent of tourism expenditure, and the Keserwan region which came third receiving 3 percent of total money spent by tourists. The Baabda area ranked last, attracting only 1 percent of spending.

Most of the tourists or 67 percent of the total number spent their money on fashion and clothing, the highest percentage among all other categories. The remaining 25 percent of the figure was spent on watches (11 percent), perfume and cosmetics (5 percent), and home and garden products (5 percent).

However, the report cites a drop in spending growth in the first half of the year when compared to the same period a year earlier. Spending by Kuwaitis dropped 18 percent, according to Global Refund’s statistics, UK tourists by 12 percent, Syrian tourists by 7 percent, French tourists by 9 percent, and those from Egypt decreased their spending by 4 percent.

According to recent figures released by the Tourism Ministry, Lebanon received 191,600 tourists in June alone, growing 40 percent from the same month a year earlier.

Occupancy rates at the country’s hotels also increased in 2009, reaching an average of 85 percent to 90 percent by the end of June, according to official figures.

Obviously tourism income from foreigners is good for Lebanon, but like many said, expatriates spend the most, probably because their number is huge, and we earn good income compared to Lebanese standards

[joseph_lubnan]

Originally Posted by J. Abizeid

In what capacity are you making such statement ya 3aini?

In my capacity as a Lebanese citizen, ya 3youni :)

[TripolySunni]

Most of My Family Came to lebanon except for me :(

[vicking]

To be honest, I dont see that much Arabs in Christian areas.. in the past, there used to be much much more.

I am living in Metn mountains, and I know very well this region. Most of Arabs are now streched between DT and Bhamdoun/Aley.

Some people will tell you because they were not allowed to build Mosques in Christian areas.. but this is what we want from the Arabs : Come, enjoy, spend, respect us, respect our religion and culture then come back next year.

However I was IMPRESSED by the number of expats that are returning... not a single flat is empty... EVERYONE is coming back.

Big number of people are back for good, especially from Dubai. Now that their children completed school, they came back for good.

School registration are overloaded.

This is what I see...Good news for everyone

[Amaranthine]

Originally Posted by Libnene Qu7

Tourists from all countries should be welcomed. It is annoying to see how very little they know about Lebanon, thinking that Beirut is Lebanon. I think the ministry of tourism should increase its efforts into showcasing the attractiveness of all regions of Lebanon, especially when you consider that the Gulf tourists would be enticed to visit mountainous areas.

4 years ago i brang an Australian client with me to Lebanon, he thouht it was like baghdad, i took to all the sites and spent a night a wadi annoubine, i just rcieved an email from him (im currently in Lebanon) and he told me that he has convinced his bank manager, (another Australian) tocome for ten days in August. i reccomend evryone does the same. lebanon is a special place and tourism is the key.
wejust need the government tocapitalise on the proceeds.

[True Lebanese]

Beirut's seamy side offers sex and fun for Arab tourists - Feature
Posted on : 2009-08-22 | Author : DPA
Earthtimes

Beirut - On the surface, the Mediterranean coastal city of Beirut is an upmarket tourist destination, offering Arab tourists good weather, good food, and good times. But beyond the tables heavy with food and the shining lights, Beirut's greatest attraction is sex. Arab tourists flock in the thousands to Lebanon from Gulf countries every summer. More and more, Arab men seem to be attracted by the growing opportunities to engage in sex tourism.

Lebanon has long been known to cater to all desires: a place where Arab tourists can break taboos they must contend with in their home countries.

Some just want some freedom. Hind, an 18-year-old Saudi girl, is spending her summer in Lebanon, enjoying the chance to show off her striking red lipstick, large black eyes and black veil.

She cruises in her three-wheel all-terrain vehicle at midnight in the overcrowded main streets of Aley, a town 30 kilometres from Beirut, where most of the cafes and restaurants are packed with Gulf tourists and Lebanese expatriates.

"For me this is total freedom, I can meet people and enjoy the night life as well," Hind told the German Press Agency dpa.

But much of the growing tourism industry is still focused on men interested in sex. One man from Saudi Arabia, who requested not to be identified told dpa, "in Beirut there is good life, good weather, good service and most of all beautiful girls."

Lebanese women - with their outgoing characters, love of life and, most of all, their trendy European looks - have in recent years become central to attracting more Arab tourists into the country.

One of the hottest spots for such tourism is Maameltein, the red- light district of Lebanon, 20 kilometres north of Beirut.

It's a place where Arab tourists can watch beautiful women from Belarus, Ukraine, and Romania performing naked on stage. A night out with one of the dancers can cost 1,000 dollars.

One pimp in Maameltein, who asked to be identified as Carlos, told dpa that there's no shortage of women, either local or from Europe, in Maameltein.

'The rates vary, the Eastern European girls are the most highly paid, Lebanese come next, and then Iraqis,' Carlos said.

'During the summer our main clients are men from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf states, while in winter we have many Lebanese clients,' he said.

In his late 40s, Carlos is often described as the best pimp in the district, catering to a clientele of mostly rich Saudi men.

Touring Maameltein with Carlos, one can see dozens of cars packed with young and middle-aged Gulf tourists cruising the area to get what Carlos describes as a 'good catch.'

During the drive, Carlos receives calls from his clients.

'My friend, I need three Ukrainian and one Lebanese for tonight to come to a party at my residence,' Carlos quoted the caller, whom he said was from Saudi Arabia.

This would cost 'between 5,000 and 6,000 dollars per night because this is delivery to the residence,' he said, puffing a large cigar.

Elsewhere, many of the women are Iraqis who have fled their wartorn country and discovered prostitution as an easy way to earn money.

'I fled to Lebanon after the war in Iraq, with my mother and sister after my father and two brothers were killed,' said one woman who wanted to be identified as Noura. 'We were without money, so we started working here.'

Noura, her mother and sister work in three different bars.

'I know this is not a good job but we want to live and this is the easiest way to earn a living,' she said, waving goodbye as her client arrived.

Noura's pimp, who asked to be identified as Kamal, said Iraqi women find that 'this is their only means of survival, especially if they have no other training or skills in which to support themselves.'

Asked the rate for an Iraqi woman, Kamal says: 'If they are virgins and it is their first time, I can get a good price: between 1,000 and 1,500 dollars. If they are experienced, then it's between 400 and 500 dollars.'

As for Lebanese women, 'we sell them only to foreign men for fear that one day their families would know about their secret job,' added Kamal.

'I can tell you this has been a good season this year for us here,' Kamal said as he drove away.

Prostitution in Lebanon is practised undercover after a 1998 law forbidding brothels. Legal licenses are limited to places offering sex shows.

Many local groups are have started to work with young girls working in the industry.

Dar al-Amal, or 'House of Hope,' was established in 1969. It says part of its main mission is to help children and adults 're-establish their dignity and recapture the meaning of their lives' after leaving the sex industry.

'In the old days prostitution houses were closely observed by the government. But now? Chaos. The rise of the sex industry in Lebanon is a threat to Lebanese society and Lebanon's reputation in the Arab world and Europe,' says Hoda al-Kara, head of Dar al-Amal.

[freedom4ever]

Originally Posted by True Lebanese

Beirut's seamy side offers sex and fun for Arab tourists - Feature
Posted on : 2009-08-22 | Author : DPA
Earthtimes

Beirut - On the surface, the Mediterranean coastal city of Beirut is an upmarket tourist destination, offering Arab tourists good weather, good food, and good times. But beyond the tables heavy with food and the shining lights, Beirut's greatest attraction is sex. Arab tourists flock in the thousands to Lebanon from Gulf countries every summer. More and more, Arab men seem to be attracted by the growing opportunities to engage in sex tourism.

Lebanon has long been known to cater to all desires: a place where Arab tourists can break taboos they must contend with in their home countries.

Some just want some freedom. Hind, an 18-year-old Saudi girl, is spending her summer in Lebanon, enjoying the chance to show off her striking red lipstick, large black eyes and black veil.

She cruises in her three-wheel all-terrain vehicle at midnight in the overcrowded main streets of Aley, a town 30 kilometres from Beirut, where most of the cafes and restaurants are packed with Gulf tourists and Lebanese expatriates.

"For me this is total freedom, I can meet people and enjoy the night life as well," Hind told the German Press Agency dpa.

But much of the growing tourism industry is still focused on men interested in sex. One man from Saudi Arabia, who requested not to be identified told dpa, "in Beirut there is good life, good weather, good service and most of all beautiful girls."

Lebanese women - with their outgoing characters, love of life and, most of all, their trendy European looks - have in recent years become central to attracting more Arab tourists into the country.

One of the hottest spots for such tourism is Maameltein, the red- light district of Lebanon, 20 kilometres north of Beirut.

It's a place where Arab tourists can watch beautiful women from Belarus, Ukraine, and Romania performing naked on stage. A night out with one of the dancers can cost 1,000 dollars.

One pimp in Maameltein, who asked to be identified as Carlos, told dpa that there's no shortage of women, either local or from Europe, in Maameltein.

'The rates vary, the Eastern European girls are the most highly paid, Lebanese come next, and then Iraqis,' Carlos said.

'During the summer our main clients are men from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf states, while in winter we have many Lebanese clients,' he said.

In his late 40s, Carlos is often described as the best pimp in the district, catering to a clientele of mostly rich Saudi men.

Touring Maameltein with Carlos, one can see dozens of cars packed with young and middle-aged Gulf tourists cruising the area to get what Carlos describes as a 'good catch.'

During the drive, Carlos receives calls from his clients.

'My friend, I need three Ukrainian and one Lebanese for tonight to come to a party at my residence,' Carlos quoted the caller, whom he said was from Saudi Arabia.

This would cost 'between 5,000 and 6,000 dollars per night because this is delivery to the residence,' he said, puffing a large cigar.

Elsewhere, many of the women are Iraqis who have fled their wartorn country and discovered prostitution as an easy way to earn money.

'I fled to Lebanon after the war in Iraq, with my mother and sister after my father and two brothers were killed,' said one woman who wanted to be identified as Noura. 'We were without money, so we started working here.'

Noura, her mother and sister work in three different bars.

'I know this is not a good job but we want to live and this is the easiest way to earn a living,' she said, waving goodbye as her client arrived.

Noura's pimp, who asked to be identified as Kamal, said Iraqi women find that 'this is their only means of survival, especially if they have no other training or skills in which to support themselves.'

Asked the rate for an Iraqi woman, Kamal says: 'If they are virgins and it is their first time, I can get a good price: between 1,000 and 1,500 dollars. If they are experienced, then it's between 400 and 500 dollars.'

As for Lebanese women, 'we sell them only to foreign men for fear that one day their families would know about their secret job,' added Kamal.

'I can tell you this has been a good season this year for us here,' Kamal said as he drove away.

Prostitution in Lebanon is practised undercover after a 1998 law forbidding brothels. Legal licenses are limited to places offering sex shows.

Many local groups are have started to work with young girls working in the industry.

Dar al-Amal, or 'House of Hope,' was established in 1969. It says part of its main mission is to help children and adults 're-establish their dignity and recapture the meaning of their lives' after leaving the sex industry.

'In the old days prostitution houses were closely observed by the government. But now? Chaos. The rise of the sex industry in Lebanon is a threat to Lebanese society and Lebanon's reputation in the Arab world and Europe,' says Hoda al-Kara, head of Dar al-Amal.

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