The lower number of GCC tourists coming to Lebanon led to a 10% y-o-y fall in tourist spending by the third quarter (Q3) of 2016, according to Global Blue. However, on a quarterly basis, the occurrence of both Adha and Al-Fitr holidays during the 3rd quarter of 2016 did not reveal an improvement in tourist spending when compared to the same period last year, as it slipped by 3% y-o-y.
On a year-to-date basis, tourist spending by Saudi Arabian visitors decreased by 20% by Q3 2016, when compared to the same period last year. Similarly, spending by Qatari, Kuwaiti and Iraqi tourists plummeted by 21% each over the same period. However, Syrian tourist spending rose by 7%, mainly due to the increasing number of Syrian citizens in Lebanon.
During the first 9 months of the year, fashion and clothing accounted for 73% of the spending distribution by category, followed by 13% for watches and jewelry. Nevertheless, spending on all categories significantly dropped by Q3 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015. In details, spending on fashion and clothing, watches and jewellery, and souvenirs and gifts witnessed respective falls of 8%, 17%, and 33%.
Locally, 79% of tourist expenditures took place in the capital Beirut, while 12% were spent in Metn (Mount Lebanon). Furthermore, tourist spending in Beirut decreased by 12% while it escalated by 7% in Metn.
Yearly Spending Evolution by Area by September 2016
Source: Gobal Blue Tourist Spending Report