The summer of Lebanon 2025, great hopes and an economic reality
summer Lebanon 2025
With the summer season for the year 2025, Lebanon begins its preparations to receive thousands of tourists from different countries of the world, in a move that the Lebanese await impatiently, especially in light of the acute economic crisis that has been ravaged by the country for years.
Expectations indicate the possibility of achieving tourism revenues of up to 4 billion dollarsIt is a huge number that may contribute to reviving some sectors. But is this season a sustainable solution, or just a seasonal opportunity that will soon end with the end of the summer?
The summer of Lebanon is 2025 temporary economic hopes
I have always been considered Tourism in Lebanon One of the pillars of the national economy, especially during the summer when expatriates return and tourists go to coastal and mountainous areas. Hotels are starting to reserve their rooms, restaurants are preparing to receive visitors, and commercial markets rearrange their shelves in anticipation of an active movement that looks promising.
But the reality indicates that this economic dose may be temporary, in the absence of clear government policies for the real benefit from it. There is no strategic plan to invest in tourism revenues in a sustainable way that serves the national economy in the long run.
Tax evasion dispels the benefits
One of the most prominent challenges facing the tourism sector in Lebanon is Wide tax evasion. Despite expectations of $ 4 billion in revenue, a large part of this money does not enter the state treasury.
According to the Ministry of Finance estimates, tax evasion reaches 50%Which means that about 2 billion dollars It remains outside the tax system. If we assume that the tax on these revenues is informed 15%The state loses approximately $ 300 million annually.
This lost money was to form a vital support source for the public treasury, and contributes to alleviating the burden of public debt or improving basic services.
High prices: The citizen pays the price
With the increase in the number of tourists, prices in hotels, restaurants and shops rise, taking advantage of the high purchasing power of foreign visitors and expatriates who pay the dollar.
But this increase is negatively reflected on the ordinary Lebanese citizen, who receives his salary in the Lebanese pounds. Daily living costs increase significantly, from food to transportation and basic services.
It seems that Lebanese Ministry of Economy Unable to control prices or monitor markets, which makes them more like a false witness to an anomalous economic reality, exhausting the middle and poor classes.
Excessive travel tickets deprive expatriates from the homeland
Lebanese expatriates are a basic segment of tourists in the summer. But with The price of travel tickets is 100% Compared to previous years, many Lebanese abroad find it difficult to visit their homeland.
Many of these expatriates belong to the middle and working classes, and they cannot bear the high costs ranging from 1000 and 1500 dollars per ticket. What may lead to a decrease in the number of visitors from abroad, thus losing part of possible tourism revenues.
The great dependence on Syrian labor during the summer of Lebanon 2025
Most tourism institutions in Lebanon depend on Syrian employmentEspecially in the hospitality and services sectors such as cleaning, restaurants, and transportation.
Although this employment provides a cheap and fast working hand, a large percentage of profits comes out of the country in the form of Financial transfers to Syria.
Estimates indicate that these transfers may reach Hundreds of millions of dollars Annually, which is money that the local Lebanese economy does not benefit from.
A limited economic impact despite the flow of the dollar
Despite the flow Dollar Through tourism, the The economic impact remains limited.
This is due to Lebanon’s dependence on External importWhere it is imported more than 80% of the market needsThis means that a large part of the money is spent on buying foreign goods.
Consequently, instead of enhancing the flowing money, the national economy will go abroad,
It deepens The deficit in the trade balance It prevents the formation of an effective local economic cycle.
Critical economy hinders development
One of the structural challenges in Lebanon is also dominant Cash economics (cache)Which is estimated that it is formed 50% of GDP.
With the collapse of confidence in the banking sector, citizens and institutions prefer to keep their money in cash or deposit them in foreign banks.
This situation prevents Lebanese banks from benefiting from this liquidity in providing loans to small and medium enterprises or supporting productive investments, which limits growth opportunities and keeps the economy in the recession circle.
The rentier economy, a rooted problem that hinders the summer of Lebanon 2025
Since the 1990s, Lebanon has relied on Rentier economy Tourism, real estate and financial services,
And the neglect of the productive sectors such as industry and agriculture.
When money flowing from expatriates and tourists, it was not invested to build a sustainable economy, but went to consumption and rapid profit.
With the explosion of political and financial crises, the weakness of this model, and its inability to secure self -sufficiency or the provision of sustainable job opportunities.
Tourism alone is not enough, the need for a comprehensive vision
In light of these data, tourism cannot be relied upon to save the Lebanese economy.
It constitutes a temporary crane that may help in alleviating the crisis, but it is It is not a comprehensive or permanent solution. Related to is a situation An integrated economic vision Depends on:
- Supporting productive sectors
- Repairing the tax system
- Enhancing transparency and fighting corruption
- Re -confidence in the banking sector
- Development of rural, environmental and sustainable tourism
Only through a comprehensive reform, Lebanon can transform tourist seasons from a seasonal opportunity to A permanent crane for economic growth.
Large hopes require bold decisions for the success of the summer of Lebanon 2025
The summer season in Lebanon remains an important occasion to move the economic wheel, but it will not achieve the desired results without real and serious reforms.
The state is required to deal with this season as an opportunity to lay new foundations for a comprehensive economic growth,
Not to repeat the mistakes of the past and only rely on the dollars from abroad.
In a country that is considered one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the Middle East, it must be Investing in tourism is part of a sustainable national strategyThere is no temporary opportunity soon that it fades with the first crisis.
