The Minister of Tourism, Laura Lahoud, participated as a member of the Lebanese delegation headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in the activities of the “World Government Summit” in Dubai. This participation came at the invitation of the Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah bin Touq. During a dialogue session that addressed “the role of emerging countries in redefining the global travel map,” Lahoud stated that “the Lebanese tourism sector represents a pillar of the national economy, despite the current challenges, as the Lebanese people demonstrate continued resilience.” She also emphasized “Lebanon’s components and wealth and the types of tourism it offers, including cultural, environmental, sports and medical, and the role of Lebanese expatriates in the economic movement and in their performance as ambassadors for their country,” explaining that “the concept of tourism has developed as the visitor searches for meaning and authenticity, which Lebanon translates through the diversity of experiences such as promoting food tourism, heritage guest houses, and the Lebanese Mountain Trail, which contributes to distributing tourism revenues to local communities outside the capital, Beirut.”
In the context of Lebanon’s commitment to institutional reform, Lahoud explained that “launching the official digital portal for tourism and automating the licensing of tourism establishments is a strategic decision to enhance transparency, reduce bureaucracy, and create a fair and predictable investment environment for international and local investors.” Regarding “the challenges facing Lebanon, from economic and security crises to the impact of international travel warnings,” she stressed that “tourism has proven extremely resilient, and contributes about 20 to 30% of the gross domestic product,” stressing that “the resumption of travel from sister countries such as the United Arab Emirates had an immediate and direct impact in reviving confidence in the national economy,” calling for “strengthening regional cooperation to facilitate the movement of transportation and build bridges of trust.”
At the conclusion of her speech, she said: “Tourism in Lebanon is a sector of hope, an essential driver for creating job opportunities for youth and women, and a safety valve for cultural and national identity.”
It is noteworthy that the session in which Lahoud participated included Gerald Lawless (former CEO of Jumeirah Group) in his capacity as moderator of the dialogue, and Kenyan Minister of Tourism Rebecca Miano.
Later, the Minister of Tourism participated in a closed session devoted to discussing economic and tourism issues, and how to cooperate through a unified vision to develop clear future economic policies. The session was attended by Ministers of Economy and Tourism from the UAE, Egypt, Kenya, Angola, Gambia and Bermuda, in addition to representatives of the OECD and OPEC.
On the sidelines of the summit, Lahoud held several meetings, including a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Sheikha Al Nowais, and the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah bin Touq.
