- 20
- Oct.
- 2025
With the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV, scheduled from November 30 to December 2, 2025, drawing near, Lebanon is experiencing a surge in travel bookings. Airlines report a strong rise in demand, while the hotel sector is still waiting to see tangible gains.
The announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s first trip to the region has generated widespread excitement. Data from several travel agencies show that reservations for Lebanon are climbing sharply, driven by pilgrims and international visitors eager to witness this historic event. Airlines are already reporting higher occupancy rates, reflecting growing anticipation as the visit draws closer.
“Lebanon is experiencing a significant rise in travel bookings ahead of the scheduled visit of Pope Leo XIV from November 30 to December 2, 2025,” said a travel agency owner, noting that the country is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors. The visit represents a landmark moment for Lebanon’s Christian community and the nation as a whole.
The Hotel Sector Awaits Its Moment
Locally, however, the enthusiasm has yet to translate into higher hotel bookings. “We have not seen a significant increase in bookings so far,” said Pierre Achkar, the President of the Lebanese Hotel Association.
He noted that most of the expected visitors are members of the Lebanese diaspora, coming to attend the papal visit while staying with relatives or in family homes.
The same trend holds for guesthouses, which have likewise not reported a surge in bookings during this period.
Tourism insiders are nonetheless hoping for a late surge in bookings in the days leading up to the Pope’s visit, especially at pilgrimage sites and in hotels near Beirut, Byblos and Jounieh.
Frontline Pilgrimage Destinations
Even as hotels await a surge in bookings, religious sites are already bracing for a significant influx. Excursion bookings to the Saint Charbel Monastery in Annaya and Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa have already seen a noticeable rise, according to several travel agencies specializing in religious tourism.
Parish groups and organized religious tours are planning full pilgrimages around the papal visit, with some already fully booked for those dates.
“Many want to come and pray at Annaya or Harissa before or after the official masses,” said a pilgrimage organizer, who expects a rise in visits throughout December.
Beyond its tourism impact, this visit carries strong symbolic weight for Lebanon, a country in crisis yet blessed with unique religious diversity.
The arrival of Pope Leo XIV is seen as a message of hope and peace and a reminder of Lebanon’s central role in interfaith dialogue in the Middle East.
Economic benefits, though modest for now, could expand as the date approaches and the spiritual fervor briefly transforms into a unifying force for the nation.
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