Lebanon's travel industry is experiencing a cautious recovery this summer, with Beirut International Airport (BIA) showing signs of revived activity since early July, according to Jean Abboud, president of the Lebanese Travel Agencies Association.
Speaking on Friday, Abboud noted a noticeable uptick in both flight numbers and passenger traffic. The airport is currently managing between 100 and 105 flights per day, with daily arrivals averaging 17,000 to 18,000 passengers, occasionally peaking at 20,000. Occupancy rates are “satisfactory,” he said.
While the figures offer some encouragement, they fall short of earlier projections. Abboud attributed the shortfall primarily to ongoing regional instability, particularly the Israeli-Iranian war, which has discouraged many potential tourists from visiting Lebanon.
“Initial forecasts had projected a 20 to 25% increase over last year,” Abboud said. “We were hoping for a summer similar to that of 2010, but that remains out of reach.”
Unlike in previous years, the diversity of incoming nationalities is limited. The Eid al-Adha holiday brought a surge of visitors from Gulf countries such as Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait, but the majority of current arrivals are Lebanese expatriates returning for the summer.
Tourism, a critical pillar of Lebanon’s struggling economy, has also taken a hit on the outbound side. Travel agencies, which had invested in outbound packages and flight slots, saw demand plummet early in the season due to heightened regional tensions. Abboud said the sector lost between 20 and 30 peak-season days, though activity has slowly begun to recover.
Reservations remain short-term and highly volatile, rarely exceeding 10 days, as travelers remain wary of sudden security escalations.
Each year, between 250,000 and 300,000 Lebanese vacation abroad. Turkey continues to lead as the most popular destination, prized for its affordability and proximity. In 2025, Sharm el-Sheikh also saw a rise in demand despite intense summer heat, largely due to budget-friendly travel deals.
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