Tourists’ Spending Fell 18% (Y-o-Y) in Q2 2016

According to Global Blue, tourist spending in Lebanon decreased by a yearly 18% in Q2 2016, compared to Q2 2015 and 22% compared to Q1 2016. This contraction can be linked to the lower spending by GCC nationals due to the travel warnings issued by their governments against visiting Lebanon.

However, Saudi Arabian visitors registered the highest amount of tourist spending in Q2, with a share of 14%, followed by UAE nationals with 13%, and 7% for Jordanians and Egyptians.

Tourist spending by Saudi Arabian visitors decreased by 26% in Q2 2016 compared to Q2 2015 while spending by UAE tourists deteriorated by 21% over the same period. Also, spending by Jordanian and Egyptian tourists fell by 19% and 22%, respectively. Similarly, spending from Qatar, Kuwait, and the US decreased by yearly 37%, 36% and 29%, respectively.

In Q2 2016, the largest bulk of tourist spending was for fashion and clothing, where it accounted for 74% of the spending distribution by category, followed by 14% for watches and jewelry. However, spending on all categories fell by significant amounts when compared to the same period in 2015: a 16% fall in fashion and clothing, 24% decrease for watches and jewellery, and 37% decrease in spending on souvenirs and gifts.

Locally, the capital Beirut is where 82% of tourist expenditures took place while 13% were spent in Metn (Mount Lebanon). In Beirut, tourist spending decreased by 19% while it inched up by 2% in Metn.

On a different note, the number of refund transactions fell 24% in Q2 2016. Transactions carried out by Kuwaiti, Saudi Arabian and UAE nationals, the biggest holders of refund transactions, decreased by 54%, 32%, and 24% respectively.

Yearly Spending Evolution by Area by June 2016

Tourists’ Spending Fell 18% (Y-o-Y) in Q2 2016

Source: Gobal Blue Tourist Spending Report

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