Subscribe for free to Al Diyar channel on YouTube
Fear is the master of the situation… The situation changed upside down after the outbreak of the Gaza war, and although the developments did not reach Lebanon in their intensity, hesitation and anxiety hindered the activity of all sectors, so that anticipation and caution prevailed in anticipation of what the coming days would bring, at least in the near term.
A state of fear, hesitation, and questioning dominates those holding travel reservations, due to the developments in the hot Palestinian arena and the arrival of the flames of its raging war to southern Lebanon…and because the fate of this outbreak of war is still ambiguous and there are no indications yet that it will stop, the fate of flight reservations remains on the verge of cancellation in the event of Security tension continued over his mother-in-law.
“Until today, we have not noticed any negative repercussions from the Gaza war on the movement of reservations…” Jean Abboud, head of the Syndicate of Tourism and Travel Office Owners, reassures us through Al-Diyar, and says: Not a week has passed since the security events raging in Gaza, which include southern Lebanon, and therefore it is the previous It is too early to talk about canceling flight reservations towards Lebanon, nor even about shortening the flight duration and leaving Lebanon quickly… All of this has not happened yet.
But he confirms that this situation “created an atmosphere of anxiety and fear among the reservation holders, who are now standing hesitant, wondering whether it is more appropriate to cancel the reservation or not!” But of course, if the security tension continues and the clashes develop at a dangerous and open pace, it will certainly leave negative repercussions. This is very bad for the country in general and the air transport sector in particular, and therefore many reservations will be canceled and the number of arrivals to Lebanon will decline, whether they are individuals or groups… Anyone who wants to tourism in Lebanon is looking for security that creates reassurance and peace of mind on his tourist tour in all Lebanese regions. “.
Abboud denies that anyone interrupted his vacation or trip in Lebanon and left in a hurry as a spontaneous reaction to the events in Gaza, and explains that “so far the compass remains in the right direction, unless the Palestinian-Israeli war continues and reaches undesirable consequences, then it will change.” The nature of travel movement and the status of reservations is for the worse, with regard to travel movement to or departure from Lebanon.”
Before the events in Gaza: The movement was active
Returning to the period before the events in Gaza, Abboud reveals that “an active reservations movement was recorded at the end of the summer season, unlike previous years, where it declined at the end of September of each year… but until the 2nd and 3rd of this October, the reservations movement was It is still active, with approximately 12 and 13 thousand passengers arriving daily through Beirut Airport, and tourist groups from all countries, Europe, Iraq, Jordan, etc., come to Lebanon. There is also a demand for reservations until the end of the year, and not just for the months of October and November.” .
He reiterates that “before the Palestinian events, the movement was better than today and at the same time better than the same period in 2022, to the point that we felt as if the summer season had not ended yet! But unfortunately this movement is threatened today, and we do not know what its fate will be!”
Holiday bookings are growing…
Regarding Christmas and New Year’s reservations, Abboud says: The picture has not yet emerged, but holiday season reservations are increasing day after day, but we have not yet reached the peak stage because it is still early.
2023-10-12 20:12:15
#movement #flight #reservations #Gaza #events #Abboud #talks #hesitation #fear #questioning #travel #sector #Myriam #Balaa