Tourism in Lebanon

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The tourism industry in Lebanon has been important to the local economy historically and comprises a major source of revenue for the country.

From

Significant private investment is currently being made in the modernization and expansion of the tourism sector, such as in hotels catering to international travelers. Casino du Liban, which historically constituted a major tourist destination, reopened in 1996.^{[citation needed]} The largest ski resort in the country has been expanded and modernized. Lebanon's tourism industry also relies on the large number of Lebanese living abroad, who return regularly to the country during the summer season.^[8]

Citadels and Forts

• Mseilha Fort is a medieval fortification situated north of the city of Batroun in Lebanon. The current fort was built by Emir Fakhreddine II in the 17th century to guard the route from Tripoli to Beirut.^[9] The fort is built on a long, narrow limestone rock near the Nahr el-Jawz River. Its walls are constructed with small sandstone blocks quarried from the nearby coast and built onto the edge of the limestone rock. The thickness of the walls ranges from 1.5 to 2 meters (4 to 6.5 feet). The larger limestone blocks are the only remains of an earlier structure probably built for the same defensive reason. The fort is approached through a narrow path and small stairway cut into the northern side of the bedrock. A small platform precedes the low arched main gate, secured by two loopholes and a small opening in the ceiling above the entrance. The main gate leads to a vaulted vestibule, followed by a narrow triangular courtyard, giving access to a small one meter (3 feet) wide passageway leading to the archery room of the west tower. The more elevated part of the fort is accessed through the east side of the main courtyard. A doorway leading to a hall, followed by three vaulted rooms, gives access to the eastern tower.

• Süleyman the Magnificent who had ordered the restoration. In the early 19th century, the Citadel was extensively restored by the Ottoman Governor of Tripoli Mustafa Agha Barbar
  .

• Sidon Sea Castle is a crusader castle and one of the most prominent sites in the southern city of Sidon. During the 13th century, the Crusaders built Sidon's Sea Castle as a fortress on a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow 80m long roadway. The island was formerly the site of a temple to Melkart, the Phoenician version of Hercules. It was damaged I wars and renovated several times. It was partially destroyed by the Mamluks when they took over the city from the Crusaders, but they subsequently rebuilt it and added the long causeway. The castle later fell into disuse, but was again restored in the 17th century by Emir Fakhreddine II, only to suffer great damage.^[10] Today the castle consists primarily of two towers connected by a wall. In the outer walls, Roman columns were used as horizontal reinforcements, a feature often seen in fortifications built on or near former Roman sites. The rectangular west tower to the left of the entrance is the better preserved of the two. There is a large vaulted room scattered with old carved capitals and rusting cannonballs. A winding staircase leads up to the roof, where there is a small, domed Ottoman-era mosque. From the roof there is a great view across the old city and fishing harbor. The east tower isn't as well preserved and was built in two phases; the lower part dates to the Crusader period, while the upper level was built by the Mamluks. There has also been evidence of the old Phoenician city being buried under the sea in the area surrounding the castle, structures of walls, columns, stairways, remains of buildings, statues and cisterns.

• Deir el Qamar and Beit ed-Dine in Lebanon
  . It was built single-handedly by Moussa Abdel Karim Al-Maamari (born on July 27, 1931), a Lebanese visionary. It is the work of his life. He needed 60 years (21900 days and 394200 hours) of work. According to his biography, as a student, Moussa has always dreamed of building such a castle, and used to doodle his dream on pieces of paper in class. Moussa was not a very sharp student and his teacher Anwar used to make fun of him and tell him: "You'll never accomplish anything." Moussa's crush, a Lebanese girl, used to say that she wants to marry a guy who owns a palace. Between 1951 and 1962, he prepared everything to fulfill his plan, including buying the land and paperwork. In 1962, his work of life started: He built the castle and handcrafted each of its stones and clay animated figures representing different scenes of the old Lebanese village life of the 19th century, making it a true work of a visionary and a masterpiece by all means.

• Crusaders in the 12th century from indigenous limestone and the remains of Roman structures. The finished structure was surrounded by a moat. Saladin captured the town and castle in 1188 and dismantled the walls in 1190. Later, the Crusaders recaptured Byblos and rebuilt the fortifications of the castle in 1197. In 1369, the castle had to fend off an attack from Cypriot vessels from Famagusta
  . The Byblos Castle has distinguished historical buildings for neighbors. Near it stand a few Egyptian temples, Phoenician Royal Necropolis and the Roman amphitheater. These are testament to the varied and rich history of the town of Byblos.
• Acre besieged the castle, captured it and destroyed many of its remaining fortifications. The Galilee earthquake of 1837 caused further damage to the structure and from then on the ruins were used as a quarry and a shelter for sheep. In the 17th century, Fakhr-al-Din II took the castle as a part of his network of fortifications. Fakhr-al-Din II was defeated by the Ottomans, who destroyed the upper portions of the castle. The area was ruled by feudal families until 1769. In 1782 the Governor of Acre besieged the castle, captured it and destroyed many of its remaining fortifications. The Galilee earthquake of 1837 caused further damage to the structure and from then on the ruins were used as a quarry and a shelter for sheep. The outcrop Beaufort occupied overlooks the Litani River
  . The river flows past the east side of the castle, which stands atop a 300 meters (980 ft) cliff which declines steeply to the river.

Old towns still form the center or core of many Lebanese cities and towns. The majority of these old towns dot the coastline of Lebanon, with only a small number of them found in the country's interior. This reflects the nature of the Lebanese people who were a maritime culture largely involved in trade and commerce.

• qiblah
  wall... etc.
• Maronite eparchy
  . Today, Batroun is composed of an old town with numerous old stone churches and winding alleyways, all assembled around the old Phoenician harbor.
• Fakhreddine II Palace, and other historical palaces and administrative buildings. The 17th century Deir el Qamar Synagogue is also in the village, although closed to the public. During its peak, the city was the center of Lebanese literary tradition. It was the first village in Lebanon to have a municipality in 1864, and it is the birthplace of many well-known personalities, such as artists, writers, and politicians. It was the capital of the Druze Cancimat of Lebanon (1840-1860).^{[clarification needed}
  ] One of the most important historical and religious sites in Deir El Qamar is Our Lady of the Hill known as Saydet El Talle. This Maronite church goes back to the 15th century. The legend says that there was a Druze Emir in Baakline looking at the hill of Deir El Kamar. He saw a light coming out of the hill. He gathered his soldiers and ordered them to go in the morning and dig in the land. He said to them: 'If you find an Islamic symbol, build a mosque. If you find a Christian symbol, build a church." The soldiers went in the morning, dug in the land and found a rock with a cross on it. Under the cross, there was the moon and Venus. That was the sign that long time ago, there was a temple dedicated to the moon and Venus and later it became a church. Earthquakes and wars might be the reason for its disappearance." The rock discovered by the soldiers can be found above the old gate of the church. A Byzantine column can be found inside the church.
• saray
  . However, the most important attraction in Zahleh remains a 300 m (984 ft) promenade along a local river. Sheltered between the ravine's limestone cliffs, it is lined up with outdoor restaurants, cafes and playrooms, and shaded by trees.
• caravanserais, the biggest of which is "Khan El Franj", old harbors with multiple quays, and the Sidon Sea Castle
  , a fort that guards the port.
• Tyrian Purple. The city's history also includes goddesses Europa and Dido-Elissa
  along with many other significant characters.
• Rachaya
  is an old town situated in the Wadi el Taym region in the West Bekaa. The small town is most famous for its Crusader castle, which was later used as a prison in which the founding fathers of the country were imprisoned during their struggle for independence. Traditional brick houses with red-tiled roofs add a wonderful charm to the town.

• prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period. The museum was designed in a French-inspired Egyptian Revival architecture and built with Lebanese Ochre
  limestone. It comprises a basement, a ground floor, a mezzanine floor and a terrace; the central block is covered by a glass roof, above the mezzanine, giving natural overhead light. The whole site is approximately 5,500 square meters (59,000 sq ft), and the exhibition floor space totals 6,000 square meters (65,000 sq ft). The immediately adjoining museum annexes and administrative offices occupy about 1,000 square meters (11,000 sq ft). The museum displays follow a chronological circuit beginning in Prehistory and ending in the Ottoman era. The circuit begins on the ground floor where 83 large objects are displayed, these include sarcophagi, mosaics statues and reliefs. The upper floor displays 1243 small and medium-sized artifacts arranged by chronological order and by theme in modern showcases with soft lighting and magnifying glasses that emphasize the aesthetic aspect of the artifacts.
• Khalil Gibran. Founded in 1935, the Gibran Museum possesses 440 original paintings and drawings of Gibran and his tomb. It also includes his furniture and belongings from his studio when he lived in New York City and his private manuscripts. The building which houses the museum and his tomb was bought by his sister in 1931 under Gibran's request, having spiritual significance as a monastery dating back to the 7th century when it was the Mar Sarkis (Saint Serge) hermitage. In 1975, the Gibran National Committee restored and expanded the monastery to house more exhibits and again expanded it in 1995.^[11]
• University of Boston team who excavated this archaeological site in 1948. The display shows a 23 m stratigraphic sequence of thirty-seven layers illustrated by the flint tools belonging to several cultures detected.^[12]
• Chafic Abboud, Rafic Charaf, Omar Onsi, and Aref Rayess
  , among many others. The museum is currently undergoing an expansion project that would increase the museum's surface from 2,000 square meters to 7,000 square meters, and include additional exhibition rooms, a library, a bookshop, and music room.
• The
  Melkite Catholic
  icons, and preserved manuscripts.
• The
  Saint Joseph University of Beirut. The founding of the museum followed from the work of Jesuit scholars who controlled prehistoric research in this part of the world until the 1950s. These had accumulated a large amount of artifacts and heritage, collected at the "Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines" of Saint Joseph University. This faculty established a research center in 1988 that developed with the creation of the Museum of Prehistory
  in June 2000. The museum houses an exceptional collection of animal and human bones, Neolithic pottery, stone tools and other ancient items recovered from over four hundred archaeological sites since the 19th century. The collections form a unique reference and were only accessible to specialists until the late 1990s. By exhibiting part of the collection to the public, the University has enabled people to investigate and discover the details and mysteries of prehistoric Lebanon. The museum occupies a total of 350 square meters (3,800 sq ft) on two levels.
• mosaics, burial chambers, engravings on stones and columns, well-preserved skeletons, a covered canal, and part of an ancient paved road. The ruins and findings were excavated by Lebanese archaeologists before the cathedral underwent restoration; they aimed at locating the Byzantine church Anastasis, which according to ancient texts is believed to be near Beirut's famous law school before it was leveled by the 551 Beirut earthquake
  .
• MIM Museum is a private museum in Beirut, Lebanon. The museum displays more than 2000 minerals, representing 450 different species from 70 countries, and is considered one of the most significant private collections of minerals in the world.It opened in 2013. The museum also hosts an exhibition of marine and flying fossils from Lebanon.

• The Cilicia Museum features a substantial collection of liturgical garments with beautiful silver and gold embroidery. Many of them date back to the seventeenth century and a definite connection may be detected between some of these needlework and the miniatures of the period. There is also the library of vintage printed books. As indicated, the Bible of Barjrberd and the Mayr Maštoc‘ are the rarest and most distinctive texts.A tiny collection of six Armenian prayer scrolls known as hmayils and/or pahpanaks. More than a thousand samples of coins and banknotes from various eras are included in the collection, along with several coins from nearby nations.The carpet and tapestry collections from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries are also found.

Other major museums:

• Ameen Rihani Museum
• M. Farroukh Museum
• Museum and Library of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
• Baalbek Museum
• Dahesh Museum
  of Art
• Lebanese Heritage Museum
• Expo Hakel Lebanon
• Robert Mouawad Private Museum Lebanon
• Byblos Fossil Museum
• Byblos Wax Museum
• Memory of Time Museum
• Sidon Soap Museum
• MIM Museum
• The Cilicia Museum

Religious Tourism

Located in the heart of two major world religions, Christianity and Islam, Lebanon has an old and rich religious background with diverse traditions. This is evident in the religious and multicultural blend that can be seen till present times and which gives a unique identity to the Lebanese society. Lebanon has been a refuge for persecuted religious groups for thousands of years, thus adding a vast amount of religious heritage to the country in both Christian and Islamic sanctuaries and holy places.^[13]

• The town of
  Téléférique". It attracts both pilgrims and tourists who want to enjoy views of the bay of Jounieh. The pilgrimage site is a huge 15-ton bronze (and painted white) statue of Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Lebanon or Notre Dame du Liban, with her arms outstretched. The statue was made at the end of the 19th century and inaugurated in 1908. Inside the statue's base, there is a small chapel. A huge modernistic Maronite cathedral built of concrete and glass stands right beside the statue. It was made up of seven sections that were assembled on top of the stone base, which had a bottom perimeter of 64m, an upper perimeter of 12m and with an overall height of 20m. The height of the statue is 8.50m while its perimeter is 5.50m. The statue and the shrine were inaugurated in 1908, and since then it has been a major pilgrimage destination in Lebanon. The shrine is erected on top of a 650 meters high wooded hill, equipped with a wide observation deck. The shrine was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1997 and Pope Benedict XVI
  in 2012.
• South Lebanon
  .
• Our Lady of Bekaa (also spelled Beqaa), is a Marian shrine located in the city of Zahlé in the Beqaa Valley. In 1958, Bishop Euthym, a man of great devotion to Our Lady, decided to build a shrine in honor of the Virgin Mary on the top of a hill overlooking Zahle and the Bekaa Valley. A ten-meter-high bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, the work of the Italian artist, Pierroti, rests on a 54-meter high tower, crowning a hill known by the name of Tel Chiha. An elevator takes pilgrims and tourists up to a viewing platform overlooking the red-roofed city and offering panoramic views of the valley. The base of the tower houses a small chapel that seats about 100 people.
• Patriarch Estephan El Douaihy
  restored part of the buildings.
• Monastery of Qozhaya, also transliterated Qazahya is located in the Zgharta District in the North Governorate of Lebanon. It belongs to the Lebanese Maronite Order, known as Baladites. It is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great. It is commonly called Qozhaya, in reference to the valley in which it is located. The valley of Qozhaya, along with the valley of Qannoubine to which it is connected to the west, form what is called the valley of Qadisha. Qozhaya is considered to be one of the oldest monasteries of the valley of Qadisha. Several hermitages are attached to it and at a certain period (probably the 12th Century AD), it has been the See of the Maronite Patriarch. In 1584, the first printing press of the Middle East was installed in this monastery. In 1708, it was handed down to the newly formed Lebanese Maronite Order. It still belongs to this important Order. Qozhaya was at its pinnacle in the first part of the 19th Century with more than 300 monks belonging to it. With its large properties in the valley, in Ain-Baqra and in Jedaydeh, Qozhaya is one of the richest monasteries of the Order. It contributes financially to the maintenance of the less fortunate monasteries of the Order.
• Bzommar, belonging to the Armenian Catholic Church
  .
• Emir Munzer Mosque This mosque was constructed by Emir Munzer Al-Tannoukhi. The mosque was also known as Masjid Al-Naoufara because of the fountain in its courtyard. The mosque has two entrances: the original 17th century arch portal from Souk Al-Bazarkhan, and a second entrance with three arches, added when the adjacent building was demolished to make way for the new Emir Fakhreddine Street (later renamed Riad Al-Solh Street).
• Emir Assaf Mosque Emir Assaf Mosque is located in downtown Beirut, Emir Mansur Assaf inaugurated the mosque in 1597, on the former Serail Square that hosted Emir Fakhreddine's palace.
• Mansouri Great Mosque The Mansouri Great Mosque is a mosque in Tripoli, Lebanon, also known simply as The Great Mosque of Tripoli. It was built in the Mamluk period, from 1294 to 1314, around the remains of a Crusader Church of St. Mary.
• Al-Nabi Shayth A mosque was built on the burial site and it contains the grave of Seth, son of Adam inside the mosque.
• Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin
  and it is 1,300 years old. It is the most known Islamic shrine in Lebanon, for its Islamic architecture and its holiness especially for Shi'as there.
• The Shrine of Elias is a shrine located at the village of Nabi Ayla in Beqaa.
• The Shrine of Noah is a shrine in a village called Karak Noah
• The mosque of Ibrahim al-Khalil Is a mosque built by the Muslims when first entered Lebanon. It was built at year 635 CE and it is located in the city of Baalbek.
• Ra's el-Ain Mosque Is Known by the name of “Masjid el-Hussein”, this mosque was built in 61AH/681AC above the ruins of an old Phoenician temple, near the spring of Ra's el-Ain. The stones of the temple were used in building the mosque. Later, the Mamluk sultan el-Zaher Baybars renewed and enlarged it in 676AH/1277AC.

Anjar

Inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984,

• The Temple of
  Corinthian columns
  remain standing. Each column is 22 meters (66 ft) high and 2 meters (7.5 ft) in diameter, hinting at the temple's enormous size in the time of the Roman Empire.
• The Temple of Bacchus is the best-preserved Roman temple in the Middle East. Although smaller than the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Bacchus is still larger than the Parthenon in Athens. The dedication and purpose of this temple, and its relationship to the rest of the temple complex, remain a mystery.
• The Temple of Venus is a smaller, domed structure set apart to the southeast of the complex. During the Byzantine period, the temple was converted into a church honoring Saint Barbara.
• Only part of the staircase from the Temple of Mercury can still be seen on Sheikh Abdallah hill, a short distance away from the main temple site.^[19]

Baalbek was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1984.^[20]

Byblos

• Ancient Phoenician Temples, that include the Temple of the Obelisks (also known as the Great Temple or L-Shaped temple), and the Temple of Baalat Gebal.
• Byblos Castle, a 12th-century Crusader castle located near the port.
• Byblos Mosque, considered to be the oldest mosque in the world.
• Medieval City Wall
• Byblos Wax Museum
• St John the Baptist Church, a Crusader church built in 1150.
• Byblos Fossil Museum
• Historic Quarter and
  Souks
  , near the entrance of the archaeological site.

Qadisha Valley and Cedars Forest

Inscribed as a world heritage site in 1998, the

• The Qannubin Monastery, the oldest of the
  Maronite
  monasteries in the valley.
• The Monastery of St Anthony of
  St Hilarion
  .
• The Monastery of Our Lady of Hawqa, founded in the late 13th century by villagers from Hawqa.
• The Monastery of Mar Sarkis, Ehden, successively built in the 8th century, 1198 and 1690.
• The Monastery of Mar Lishaa, comprising a Maronite solitary order and a Barefoot
  Carmelite
  order.

Other monasteries consist of the Monastery of Mar Girgis, with the Chapel of Mar Challita, the Monastery of Mar Yuhanna, the Monastery of Mar Abun, with the Hermitage of Mar Sarkis, and the Monastery of Mart Moura, Ehden.

Tyre

Major archaeological sites in Tyre:[24]

• Al-Bass site, having a three-bay monumental arch, an extensive necropolis and a large hippodrome (all dating from the 2nd century AD to the 6th century AD).
• City site, in the old Phoenician island city, it consists of
  mosaics
  , streets, a vast district of civic buildings and a rectangular arena.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism activities and sports:[26]

• ATV (All-terrain vehicle)
• Rafting
• Hiking
• Caving
• Dirt biking
• Via Ferrata
• Rappelling
• Horse riding
• Snowboarding
• Mountain biking
• Mountain climbing

Natural reserves:

• Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve
• Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve
• La Reserve Afqa
• Palm Islands Nature Reserve
• Tannourine Nature Reserve
• Tyre Beach Nature Reserve
• Yammouneh Nature Reserve

Lebanese outdoors

Lebanon's nature and geography, which are unique to the Middle East region, allow the practice of outdoor activities (mainly concentrated in the summer season). Nowadays, these activities are gaining more interest from nature lovers and becoming well equipped with the specific requirements and facilities.^[27]

Major Outdoor activities:

• Camping, a popular outdoor activity concentrated between the months of May and September.
• Caving, an important Lebanese natural heritage (3 of the major caves are Afqa Grotto, Roueiss, and Ain El Libne).
• Cycling, a notable activity of recent interest.
• Nahr Ibrahim
  ).
• Harissa, Barouk and Faraya
  ).
• Rafting, a recently introduced sport practiced in locations like the Assi, the Litani, and the Awali rivers.
• Motorcycle riding, different motorcycle clubs organize all year round rides throughout the country. A notable reference is H.O.G Lebanon Chapter which includes more than 300 members.

Winter Sports

Although Lebanon is considered to be a summer destination,

• The Cedars, 1850–3087 m above sea level and 120 km from Beirut.
• Laqlouq, 1750-2200m above sea level and 60 km from Beirut.
• Faqra-Kfardebian, 1800–2400 m above sea level and 45 km from Beirut.
• Mzaar-Kfardebian, 1850–2500 m above sea level and 45 km from Beirut.
• Qanat Bakiche, 1900 m above sea level and 60 km from Beirut.
• Zaarour, 1700–2000 m above sea level and 40 km from Beirut.

Leisure

Lebanon has a 200 km of seashore with about 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a favorable destination for leisure and activities that expand in different parts of the country.^[29]

Popular Beaches and water parks in Lebanon:

• Orchid Beach Resort^[30]
• Turquoise Beach Resort
• Oceana Beach Resort
• Edde Sands
• Laguava Resort
• Cyan
• Janna Sur Mer
• Green Beach
• Riviera Beach Club
• Bamboo Bay
• Waves Aquapark
• Watergate Aquapark
• Jiyeh Marina

Art Galleries in Lebanon:

• Zamaan Gallery - includes a collection of more than 1700 paintings by Lebanese and Middle Eastern artists (www.zamaangallery.com)
• Lebanon is famous for its lottery system and Loto, operated by La Libanaise Des Jeux Official La Libanaise des Jeux.

Lebanese cuisine

The Lebanese cuisine, resembling

Lebanese crafts

Lebanese crafts have a sense of style and beauty that attract many tourists interested in these unique handcrafted items which are considered as a significant souvenir of the tour. The production method of Lebanese crafts is mainly concentrated in small villages where the old skills are handed from generation to generation, produced from local raw materials and carefully made with a sophisticated aesthetic and skill. Different regions of the country specialize in various handicrafts such as

• Eshmun Temple
  ...etc.
• Mzaar Kfardebian
  a prominent Lebanese ski area and mountain resort.
• Raouche Rock
• Téléférique up Mount Harissa to visit Our Lady of Lebanon
  .
• Jeita Grotto recognized as one of the most magnificent limestone caves in the world.
• Chouf which hosts the Beiteddine Palace and the Beiteddine Festival
  .
• Mousaylaha
  citadel built by the Crusaders. Batroun is also famous for its Phoenician old town and old churches. Nightlife is thriving in Batroun with many nightclubs and beach bars. Colonel Beer Brewery, one of a kind in the region, is also located on the shores of Batroun.
• El Mina
  .
• The Beirut Central District used to be the beating heart of the city but is hardly gaining its old status. Home to numerous historical sites, and rebuilt after the end of the civil war, the BCD it hosts a number of upscale hotels, restaurants, and shops. It is by far the most visited tourist venue in Lebanon. During the summer, the squares and parks of the BCD turn into huge open-air concert halls boasting regional and international performance, but generally speaking, after office hours, the district streets are empty.
• The trendy and lively neighbourhoods are
  Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhaël
  .
• Byblos, believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, is also a big tourist destination known for its ruins and ancient citadels, its old souk and port, its beaches, its museums, and more recently its nightlife. Byblos also hosts Byblos International Festival yearly, the biggest festival in Lebanon with worldwide artists performing concerts on the seaside near the sea castle. It was voted the best Arab city in 2015.
• Maronite church in Lebanon. Ehden is also home to the most biodiverse and one of the biggest nature reserves in Lebanon, the Horsh Ehden reserve which offers a wide variety of fauna and flora, it is also a hiking destination. Ehden has a town centre that offers plenty of international cuisine restaurants as well as traditional cuisine. Ehden hosts an international festival every year named "Ehdeniyat International Festival". It is advisable to visit the town in summer as it is a summer town for the people of Zgharta therefore it is empty in winter and spring, nevertheless, the Horsh Ehden
  reserve is open all year long with all hotels being opened all year long as well.

There is a wide range of festivals that take place in Lebanon, especially in the summer season where festivities including both Lebanese and international performers take place in major archaeological and historical sites, including

• Anjar Festival
• Al Bustan Festival
• Baalbeck International Festival
• Beiteddine Festival
• Byblos International Festival
• Deir el Qamar
  Festival
• Tyre Festival

Statistics and economy

Tourism was once a very important contributor to Lebanon's economy, accounting for almost 20 percent of the

Recent years

On August 16, 2015, during the 7th session of the Joint Jordanian-Lebanese Higher Committee, Lebanese and Jordanian officials signed a five-year tourism partnership program which includes efforts to promote tourism in both countries.^[49]

Arrivals by country

Most visitors arriving to Lebanon were from the following countries of nationality:^[50]

Country	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012
Syria	552,179	2,421,346	2,687,509	2,377,368	1,802,598	1,956,194	3,614,539	4,459,842	4,116,463
Iraq	52,903	196,265	211,589	226,930	236,013	191,578	189,156	141,986	126,982
France	46,219	181,127	181,321	164,924	145,666	134,181	120,710	117,688	120,134
United States	38,104	192,671	190,464	171,110	154,095	135,606	114,015	103,483	110,539
Germany	30,083	106,379	104,167	96,711	87,567	74,823	67,988	61,123	62,160
Egypt	23,364	92,533	92,173	82,282	83,337	75,524	69,179	63,578	64,017
Canada	22,664	113,063	114,137	107,713	100, 076	91,324	78,419	71,841	75,751
Jordan	13,245	87,447	92,920	90,077	86,693	77,960	73,822	78,018	89,100
United Kingdom	16,979	74,177	75,309	68,360	61,994	56,608	49,179	48,504	50,214
Sweden	11,993	47,153	44,032	38,958	34,722	28,376	26,031	24,011	24,340
Turkey	9,266	33,850	32,744	29,839	25,487	21,027	16,126	23,823	28,850
Australia	8,265	75,589	84,218	78,664	72,743	57,852	48,467	43,560	50,261
Total	965,733	4,357,666	4,651,399	4,234,163	4,179,966	3,474,121	4,969,186	5,734,204	5,482,308

Bibliography

• Dewailly B., 2007, « Du cas et des “K” touristiques libanais : une communication géographique » , in Villes et Territoires du Moyen-Orient, Institut Français du Proche-Orient, Beyrouth, mars, n° 3, on
  Hal-SHS
  .
• Dewailly B. et Ovazza J.-M., 2009, "Le tourisme au Liban : quand l’action ne fait plus système", in Berriane M. (Ed.), Tourisme des nationaux, tourisme des étrangers : quelles articulations en Méditerranée ?, Rabat University Press, Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines and European Research Institute, Florence, Italy, 277 p. 
  Hal-SHS
  .
• Dewailly B. et Ovazza J.-M., 2009, " Les complexes balnéaires privés au Liban. Quels lieux touristiques en émergence ?", in Berriane M. (Ed.), Tourisme des nationaux, tourisme des étrangers : quelles articulations en Méditerranée ?, Rabat University Press, Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines and European Research Institute, Florence, Italy, 277 p. 
  Hal-SHS
  .
• Ministère libanais du tourisme, 1995, Le Liban – Un Avenir – Le Tourisme, Plan de Reconstruction et de Développement Touristiques du Liban, République Libanaise, Organisation Mondiale du Tourisme, République Française, Programme des Nations-Unies pour le Développement.

See also

• Constitution of Lebanon
• Driving licence in Lebanon
• Foreign relations of Lebanon
• History of Lebanon
• Lebanese diaspora
• Lebanese identity card
• Lebanese passport
• Politics of Lebanon
• Vehicle registration plates of Lebanon
• Visa policy of Lebanon
• Visa requirements for Lebanese citizens

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lebanon.