Lebanon’s summer tourism outlook shrouded in uncertainty amid looming war threat

BEIRUT – Asked what his expectations were for this summer’s tourist season, Philippe Tabet, owner of several Sour hotels and restaurants, including Dar Alma Hotel, paused briefly before announcing the now eight-month-long armed confrontation in southern Lebanon had forced him to shut his doors.Tabet, who had to let go of around 70 staff members, says he doesn’t “see the situation getting better anytime soon.” He has closed down his operations but says he’ll keep some services running. “Everything is uncertain but I am, however, open to partially operating a few of my hotel rooms should there be any guests that seek accommodation this summer.”Further up north, Marc Abboud, owner of AYLA, a restaurant in Jbeil, where he is also the district’s coordinator for Lebanon’s restaurant owners syndicate, says they are also “taking things one day...