Travelwirenews.com  Starting in 1992, Lebanon claimed 2500 rooms, today there are 16,000 rooms available to travelers, and 3000 additional rooms are under construction with openings scheduled for 2006 and 2007. Major branded international players include Hilton, Marriott, Four Seasons, and the Grand Hyatt. These hotels are focused on serving selected European as well as Inter-Arab leisure and commercial markets.

Pierre Ashkar, president of the Lebanon Hotel Association, shared his observations on the expanding hotel and tourism environment.

There has been a change in the publicأ¢â‚¬â„¢s perception of Lebanon. Finally this destination is being acknowledged as a country that is not only free, it is also safe. Furthermore, the population is multi-cultural and multi-lingual, and visitors find European and Middle Eastern travelers and residents living and working together.

Aschar proudly points out that Beirut is known for its shopping streets and malls, international cuisine, and excellent service. Adventure travelers quickly learn that they can ski the mountains and swim the sea on the same day. Cultural visitors are delighted with Lebanese wine tastings, concerts, and international fairs. A viable growth market is health tourism as many first class hospitals and well trained doctors are available to provide excellent medical services for regional patients.

The Lebanese Tourism office and Hotel Association frequently participates in travel trade shows in London, Paris, and Berlin; however, government spending for tourism is limited, and over the years marketing campaigns have been directed toward European markets. Aschar noted that major political incidents create setbacks in tourism, directly affecting the European marketplace, so the current target markets are travelers from Russia, the Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries.

In discussing plans for the future, Aschar said that Lebanon is being positioned to be the Little Vegas of the Middle East, with casino licenses available to developers who open casinos and hotels in the mountainous ski areas. To encourage cruise ships to arrive/depart from the seaside community of Byblos, a new port is being developed that will handle larger ships, as well as mariners for yachts to be anchored and rented. There are also plans to provide additional airports for landing private jets.

أ¢â‚¬إ“We are designing our own market niche; therefore a discussion of competition is not practical,أ¢â‚¬آ‌ Aschar commented when questioned about current or potential competition.