Saudi tourists dominate Lebanon spending in 2009

[elias-aj]

I don't think that the saoudi tourists in Lebanon, looking for sex and fun tourism is a problem itself. Given the situation in Lebanon, we can't but rely on this kind of tourism and on the expatriates.

Sex and fun tourism has always existed in Lebanon and it doesn't make our country different from the french and italian riviera or spain or croatia etc. Sea, sex and fun. I don't think that the level of "prostitution" is less or more important than in France for instance.

However, while this tourism is a good thing from an economical point of view today, we have to develop other kind of tourism. Ski during the winter, beach + ski during the fall season, cultural tourism etc. in order to attract more foreign tourists, like westerners or asian tourists. But we have to review our infrastructures and to clean our country.

By cleaning our country, I really mean cleaning the streets, the beaches, the forests etc. Because it's a shameful mess. The level of pollution in the lebanese cities given notably the chaotic circulation is another obstacle.

Here is an example based on my french wife perception on Lebanon.

1st time she visited Lebanon, she was astonished because she discovered a country totally different from what she expected (beirut during the war etc. etc.)

2nd time, she enjoyed her visit a lot between the restaurants, the visits etc.

3d time, she discovered more of Lebanon and focused on what's beautiful in our country. The mountains, the sea, the great night life, the nice places of interest. However, she starts seeing the concrete all along the coast, the pollution etc.

4th time, now that she knows the country, she focused on the mess. The concrete, the pollution, the dirts, the chaotic circulation which are a reflection of the lebanese unbearable individualism and lack of respect.

Many said they want to attract western tourists. Well yes it would be nice but there is a huge work to do because we have to admit that today, those western tourists have another more valuable options for their holidays than coming to Lebanon. And not to speak about our political situation.

[shadow1]

Originally Posted by True Lebanese

Beirut's seamy side offers sex and fun for
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.

Good to know. A little bit of friendliness could go a long way in rectifying our perennial trade deficit.

'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.

More girls like this and more men like this libidinous dude and the foreign debt could be wiped out in no time.

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.

Well they at least came to the right place where lebanese pimps are well known for their good manners and compassion for destitute girls.

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.'

Good on you Kamal. You are a champ for helping these women put their feet on the ground.

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.'

Virgins could get a lot more than this on ebay. Let's hope Lebanese pimps do the right thing by these women and offer them most of the proceeds.
As for damaged goods, 400 and 500 aint a bad price

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.

Good thinking on part of Kamal. we dont want to damage the reputation of thesae women.

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

Nshallah tdall 2iyyemou kella sayf and his jolly seasons know no end.

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

And our politician prostituted the whole country wholesale so why is flesh prostitution still illegal?

[joe tayyar]

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.

I used to work for 5 years in a very imp hotel in downtown beirut (2000-2005).
60 to 70 % of the occupants were for prostitution.
I saw lots of singers and top models and what shocked me once is that i saw my friend (girl) who used to be with me at school and in my class, in a fancy suite with a gulf national.

[Positive Balance]

Originally Posted by True Lebanese

Beirut's seamy side offers sex and fun for Arab tourists - Feature
...
sex.
...
sex tourism.
...
sex.
...
beautiful girls."
...
naked on stage.
...
virgins
...
sex shows.

Girls, sex, nudity, and men picking their toes.

DI you've got to stop with the dirty threads all the time!

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Positive Balance

Girls, sex, nudity, and men picking their toes.

DI you've got to stop with the dirty threads all the time!

It's the Saudis I tell ya!

[Rooney]

Originally Posted by MockingBird

ok you apologize in your own name
don't get us involved
X was telling the truth

lol what about the iranian tourists ? []

I guess you know them now more than anyone

Originally Posted by joe tayyar

I used to work for 5 years in a very imp hotel in downtown beirut (2000-2005).
60 to 70 % of the occupants were for prostitution.
I saw lots of singers and top models and what shocked me once is that i saw my friend (girl) who used to be with me at school and in my class, in a fancy suite with a gulf national.

sho khaso iza hiyi bala sharaf

[arman-i]

Originally Posted by Rooney

lol what about the iranian tourists ? []

I guess you know them now more than anyone



sho khaso iza hiyi bala sharaf

although i wish to see more iranian tourists in lebanon, who by the way are more civilized than the saudi ones, all you wanted to hint for is your cheap sunni/chi3a conflict. ouffffff, zhi2na minnak w min amtelak ba2a, open your head/eyes it's tourism what we are talking here!!!!!!!!!!

[Raficoo]

yep.. alot of Saudis on the roads.... how can i tell..... o almost every Lamborghini and Porche i see has Saudi License plates.... ah.. well atleast now i know where the $$$$$ ppl spent at the Gas station go to...

[Salome]

Originally Posted by elias-aj

Many said they want to attract western tourists. Well yes it would be nice but there is a huge work to do because we have to admit that today, those western tourists have another more valuable options for their holidays than coming to Lebanon. And not to speak about our political situation.

Me naive I thought Lebanon could be promoted to the West and attract American and European tourists...till I was enlightened that it is clearly not a Lebanese priority, simply because a khaleeji anytime pays better off.

[teshesh]

Originally Posted by Rooney

lol what about the iranian tourists ? []

hein? where r u seeing iranian tourists? seriously?