According to Global Blue, tourist spending in Lebanon rose by a yearly 1.57% in Q1 2018, compared to Q1 2017. This increase is mainly attributed to the 2.97% yearly rise in tourist arrivals by February 2018 to 221,695.
The largest bulk of tourist spending corresponded to Emirati visitors with a share of 12% of the total, followed by 11% for Saudi nationals, 10% for Syrian tourists.
Tourist spending by Saudi Arabian visitors plunged by 29% in Q1 2018 compared to last year and spending by Kuwaiti and Emirati tourists fell by 19% and 9%, respectively, over the same period. Nonetheless, tourist spending from Syria doubled and spending from Egyptian and Qatari tourists increased by a yearly 48% and 31%, respectively.
In Q1 2018, fashion and clothing was the category that captured most of the tourist spending with a share of 65% in the total followed by 19% for watches and jewelry. Spending on fashion and clothing fell by 3% y-o-y by March 2018 while spending on watches and jewelry increased by 11% over the same period.
The capital Beirut is where 80% of tourist expenditures took place, while 14% were disbursed in Metn (Mount Lebanon), followed by respective 3% and 2% for the Baabda and Mount Lebanon areas. In Beirut, tourist spending witnessed a marginal 0.38% increase while that in Metn rose by 5%.
Yearly Spending Evolution by Area by March 2018
Source: Gobal Blue Tourist Spending Report