The rates of reservations in tourist establishments for the summer of 2023, particularly in “Lebanese guest houses”, are experiencing a remarkable increase, which reflects the prosperity of this new sector, whose age is equivalent to the age of the economic crisis in Lebanon.
And on the demand for this sector, Nader Musa, an activist in the Lebanese tourism sector, told Sky News Arabia: “It’s not new, but what is remarkable is that this sector has Much has flourished in recent years, with the eagerness of Lebanese people opening their homes to this social economic experience, to provide an unparalleled experience for the visitor.
More than 150 guest houses
The head of the department of hotels and accommodation establishments at the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism, Sareen Ammar, told Sky News Arabia that:
“This sector has flourished a lot, as there are more than 150 guesthouses in Lebanon, distributed in various regions, especially in the countryside, where tourism has been active for a short time.” “This sector has become an official reference. A decision was taken to form a union of the owners of these houses. A meeting of the founders was held on Monday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism, in which the date of affiliation and the candidacy for the elections of the union and its council has been determined.” “The conditions for the guesthouses are easy, and they can consist of one room up to 10 rooms, and the owners provide official documents and information about the staff working there.” “One of the requirements for guesthouses is to provide guests with the atmosphere of Lebanese heritage and spread the beloved Lebanese culture and social customs.” “Tourist guesthouses are widespread in Lebanon, in the governorates of Mount Lebanon, Chouf and Jbeil Batroun in the north, and the city of Tire in the south, reaching new Lebanese regions this year.” This tourism contributes to the introduction of women into the tourism sector, through the production of household items, and the preparation and sale of traditional foods. For the customers. “The sector has also helped secure new sources of income for remote mountainous areas.”
A new economy that boosts individual incomes
In a related context, the head of the Association of Rented Property Owners in Lebanon, Andira Al-Zuhairi, said in an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, that “guesthouses are a new concept imported from abroad, which has prospered a lot after the economic crisis.”
Al-Zuhairi explained the following:
“The houses consist of several rooms, even a room or a house, which the owners transform into a heritage residence after adding decorative touches of Lebanese rural heritage, which transfer the guests to a comfortable, elegant and rural atmosphere. and family hospitality.” “This phenomenon thrives in rural, mountainous and remote areas of Lebanon, and grows most near nature reserves and cedar and oak forests in the highlands.” “Among the stays in Lebanese guesthouses, there is the traditional village breakfast, which makes it cheaper than staying in big hotels and cities.” “There are specially constructed rooms of mud and logs, mimicking the old Lebanese houses that remained prevalent until the end of the last century in the countryside.” “The inmates learned about the culture of the townspeople, their traditions and their village heritage.” “These houses are considered as one of the individual ventures that bring in good sums of money to the person.” “Houses often turn into bed and breakfasts on weekends, and the cost of renting them varies depending on what services are included in the cost of the rental.” “This phenomenon does not compete with hotels in cities and tourist locations, and does not detract from their assets.” “These homes are currently being used as vacation rooms for newlyweds, and they can guarantee a stay of a week or more as part of a traditional village program for newlyweds.”
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