Rehab Saad assesses the impact of the conflict in Lebanon on regional tourism The Israel bombardment of Lebanon coincided with the peak tourist season and thousands of holidaymakers, Arab and non-Arab, fled the country in the first days of the bombing. Some returned home while others, especially Arabs, headed instead to Egypt. Hoteliers note an influx of travelers, not only from the Arabian Gulf but also Lebanese families fleeing the escalating assault against their country. Tourism is Egypt's top source of foreign currency and Arab states come second to Europe in providing visitors. Magdi Henein, a board member of the Egyptian Hotels Association (EHA), says Egyptian hotels in Downtown Cairo, Heliopolis and Giza have reported an increase in the number of Lebanese tourists as well as Gulf Arabs who were holidaying in Lebanon until Israel began its onslaught. Egyptian tourist officials deny they have made any attempts to take advantage of the Lebanese crisis. "The Egyptian Tourism Authority's (ETA) policy is never to try and exploit the misfortunes of others," ETA head Ahmed El-Khadem told Al-Ahram Weekly. "Some countries do but we do not. Our position was clear last year, at the time of the assassination of Rafik Al-Hariri, when we refused to exploit the situation." El-Khadem says it is only to be expected that some Gulf travellers who were planning to spend their vacation in Lebanon this summer would end up in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, "the three countries of choice as far as Arab travellers are concerned". Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garannah confirmed that the Ministry of Tourism had refrained from organising any promotions aimed at attracting tourists who fled Lebanon or cancelled their travels following the Israeli aggression. "In an attempt to show solidarity with LebanonEgypt has already cancelled all celebrations, cultural performances and fireworks held on the sidelines of the annual Shopping Tourism Festival between 20 July and 19 August in 15 governorates," Garannah told the independent Al-Masri Al-Yom newspaper. While there is a hike in Arab tourism to Egypt as a result of the situation in Lebanon tourist officials and hoteliers are reporting some cancellations from non-Arab markets. "There will be a negative effect if this war continues for more than two weeks," predicted Adel Zaki, head of ITTA Tours. "If it stops sooner I don't think it will affect us." Zaki is worried that the foreign media is reporting the situation as a Middle East crisis. "Travel agents abroad are asking if there is any danger in Egypt; there are many questions that have no answers," he added. ETA's El-Khadem says Egyptian tourist offices abroad and Egyptian embassies have reported cancellations in foreign markets. "We are not particularly worried about cancellations, but what is of more concern are new bookings for the winter season," he said. "Bookings start from the second half of August. If military operations continue until that time it will definitely harm the winter season." According to Henein early figures for future foreign bookings have slowed down, and current occupancy rates are less than in previous years. Occupancy in resorts by the Red Sea and Sinai average 60 per cent, down from the usual 75 per cent. In August most hotels would expect to be working at full capacity. In its latest report the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) voiced its concern over the situation in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories. It also commiserated with grieving families and hoped for a speedy stabilisation of the situation. "The Middle East has been the fastest growing region for tourism during the past decade, and this sector has become a vital part of the socio- economic fabric of the region as well as an important component for the livelihoods of its people," noted the report. According to UNWTO figures, international tourist arrivals worldwide grew at an annual average of four per cent while arrivals in the Middle East grew at 11 per cent over the same period. In the last decade the volume of arrivals to the region almost tripled, leaping from 13.7 million in 1995 to 39.7 million last year. Receipts from international tourism (measured in local currencies at constant prices) have followed a similar pattern, growing from $9.8 billion in 1995 to $28.6 billion in 2005. The report continued that in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and some Egyptian destinations (Cairo, Alexandria and the Red Sea coast) tourism growth was driven by the intra-regional market. Lebanon posted a 37 per cent growth rate in tourism for the first quarter of the year, reporting near to full occupancy in most hotels. Israel, too, was experiencing similar levels of growth (up 25 per cent) and had anticipated double digit increases for the whole year. Egypt and Jordan also had bullish expectations. The report warned that current tensions threatened to further stymy growth as basic infrastructure was destroyed. "There is as yet no foreseeable timeframe for a return to normalcy," noted UNWTO. While the current will heavily impact on Lebanon and Israel it remains difficult to assess its effect on inbound tourism to other major destinations in the region which could continue to experience strong growth. "This is yet another example of how tourists and the tourism industry are hostage to global events beyond their control," declared UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli. "We will work closely with our members to help those who are suffering to rebuild the tourism economy."
