Global Blue recently released a special report detailing the spending behaviour of tourists from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar visiting Lebanon.
According to the report, the purchases, on which VAT was claimed, made by tourists from the above mentioned countries, accounted for 51.04% of total tourist spending in 2009 and started decelerating to 36.36% in 2016.
While the spending from these selected nationalities grew by a yearly 59.12% in 2008, it dropped by an annual 12.96% in 2016.
The number of refund forms from these selected tourists grew by a yearly 59.78% in 2008 but later dropped by a yearly 16.52% in 2016.
The report also highlights that total spending evolution and the economic growth in Lebanon are correlated and have followed similar patterns over the past ten years.
Yearly Evolution of Spending for Tourists from KSA, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar
Source: Global Blue