"We expect two million Arabs -- not including Syrians -- and other nationalities by the end of 2009," tourism ministry director Nada Sardouk told AFP. "This will be a record in the history of Lebanon."
Hotels this year are almost fully booked already."The rate of hotel occupancy in Beirut has already reached 85 percent," said Pierre Achkar, head of Lebanon's hotel owners syndicate.
Investments in more Lebanon hotels are on the rise. "Two billion dollars are invested in around 10 hotels that are under construction or in the works in Beirut," Achkar said. "This will provide 2,000 more rooms and create 6,000 more job opportunities."
The beaches are buzzing with local and foreign holidaymakers, and restaurants in the heart of Beirut are packed most nights of the week.
Fears of more violence were widespread ahead of the crucial general election in June, but the vote passed off relatively peacefully and Arabs and Lebanese expatriates are today arriving en masse.
Summer music and dance festivals, which had to be cancelled in previous years because of war or political turmoil, are back on the entertainment calendar this year, attracting thousands of visitors.
Lebanon is hosting three prestigious festivals during the summer, with rock legends Deep Purple and newcomers Keane among those set to take the stage.
Beirut topped the New York Times list of top vacation destinations in January and was listed among the top 10 cities for 2009 by the Lonely Planet for its charm and dynamism.
The question on the mind of many : Will the regional and International powers leave Lebanon alone and allow it to form a government that will enhance the stability of the country , allow it to prosper in all fields allow it to finally address the real needs of the Lebanese people ?
Tuesday
5:45pm German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets with PM-designate Saad Hariri in Qoreitem.
5:15pm Sports Minister Talal Arslan following his meeting with ‘Change and Reform’ parliamentary bloc leader MP Michel Aoun: We won’t accept a cabinet formation outside Beirut. The parliamentary opposition's stance is united.
5:00pm An Italian parliamentary delegation to visit Lebanon July 8 and 9, to meet officials and visit UNIFIL Italian brigade.
04:30pm President Suleiman is meeting with German FM Steinmeier at the Baabda Palace
3:05pm Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil to LBC TV: The meeting with PM-designate Hariri was good; talks were positive and an excellent opening for serious negotiations and discussions. We are at the stage of extending bridges.
03:00 pm German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Hezbollah and Hamas have shown "no interest in the success of the peace talks" . He encouraged Syria on Tuesday to help ensure the success of Middle East peace efforts, saying "destructive elements" in the region need to be reined in.
02:40 pm After meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem said that Damascus will not interfere in the formation of the Lebanese cabinet.
2:10pm A wanted man from the Mallah family committed suicide after jumping from the Justice Palace’s fourth floor.
1:35 pm BBC News : The Pope is set to blame greed and selfishness for the global financial crisis, in his latest encyclical letter - the highest form of papal teaching.
1:33 pm BBC News : Ousted Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya is expected to arrive in Washington later on Tuesday for a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
1:30pm: PM-designate Saad Hariri is meeting with Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil in Qureitem.
1:23pm: Military examining magistrate Fadi Sawan interrogated Abdul Latif Hijazi, a Syrian national , accused of belonging to a network linked to al-Qaida.
1:10pm The parachute looking object that was seen last night over Zafta village in south Lebanon was some kind of fireworks that was fired by one of the local residents . It was initially suspected to having been dropped by Israel
1:05pm Tourism minister Marouni: I expect a minimum of 2 million tourists this
1:00 pm President Obama told the Russians : "To begin with, let me be clear: America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia," ..."This belief is rooted in our respect for the Russian people and a shared history between our nations that goes beyond competition."
12:50 Guardian: A new wave of violence swept through the capital of the Chinese region of Xinjiang today as riot police were forced to break up crowds of Han Chinese who marched through Urumqi attacking Muslim Uighurs two days after at least 156 people were killed in ethnic clashes.
12:45pm Phalange leader Amin Gemayel met with U.S. ambassador Michele Sison at the party headquarters in Saifi and discussed the situation in Lebanon and the region
12;45 pm Hezbollah's MP Ali Fayyad told OTV: Riyadh was enthusiastic about reviving relations with Damascus, but Egypt expressed its resentment regarding Saudi Arabia’s openness toward Syria.
12:31pm Judges George Rizk and Nabil Wehbe who will respectively investigate Minister Pierre Gemayel’s murder and the assassination attempt on anchorwoman May Chidiac were informed officially notified about their appointments
12:15pm Minister Hariri : the results of the official exams will be announced next week
11:50 Siniora met Khalil Hrawi and discussed with a British delegation the situation in Lebanon and the region
11:50 Dr. Tohme Tohme, a native of Lebanon who served as Michael Jackson's adviser and confidant in the final years of his life claims to have helped the late singer save Neverland from foreclosure last year. " For the last year and a half, I was the closest person to Michael Jackson," Tohme said
11:45 Minister Qabbai : It is too early to say that there are obstacles in the way of forming the cabinet and Hariri is insisting that it should be a national unity government . We cannot build a state based on obstructions
11:45 An Egyptian was robbed at gunpoint in Hadath near mar Elias Church and a Lebanese was robbed on Baashta beach road
11:42 a stole car was found in Burj al Barajneh and was handed over to its owner
11:41 AFP - The Middle East peace process cannot handle another failure, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned on Tuesday, telling his Israeli counterpart his country would have to make "difficult decisions.
11:40 Israeli president Peres during a joint press conference with Egyptian president Mubarak : There is no other solution for peace in the Middle East other than establishing two states: Israel, the Jewish state, and Palestine, an Arab state.
11:30 Marada leader Suleiman Franjiyeh after meeting with FPM leader Gen. Michel Aoun: Syrian President Bashar Assad cannot decide on behalf of the opposition unless he consults with it.
10:42 LBC: Michael Daher contests election of Future MP Hadi Hobeich; Adnan Araqji contests election of Future MP Nohad al-Mashnouq before Constitutional Council
10:30 MP Ammar Houry told Future News: The government will eventually be born as PM-designate Saad Hariri continues to consult with Lebanese leaders with calm.
10:00 MP Mohammed al-Hajjar told LBC: Giving veto power to the opposition in the cabinet is rejected . The majority wants a sovereign relation with Syria and not ties of subordination.
09:05 Pakradonian told "Al-Ahram:" The formation of the government is not an issue of portfolio distribution , its more to do with the regional and International politics
09:01 A Delegation of "Hezbollah" clerics to visit Druze Sheikh al Akl Naim Hassan today
08:55 Sources close to Berri: the opposition is still waiting for what form of government will be presented by Hariri
08:38 sources: preparations ongoing for a second meeting between Hariri and Nasrallah's
8:30 MP Arthur Nazarian told VOL: Nothing has been proposed to the opposition yet. The Tashnag should be represented in case a 30-member cabinet would be formed.
08:29 former president Amine Gemayel after meeting with Hariri : A consensus Government will be announced as soon as possible and within a period not exceeding two weeks
08:19 "al Akhbar ": the camp of Ein el-Hilweh witnessed gunfire exchange last night between 2 armed groups belonging to the Fatah movement
7:35 MP Antoine Zahra told VOL: We have entered into serious consideration regarding distribution of shares in the new cabinet.
7:30 MP Ahmed Fatfat told VOL:Government formation has now entered into serious discussions. The majority has to remain a majority.
05:48 Jumblatt told "Al-Nahar:" Peres is one of the biggest hypocrites in international politics, calling him a moderate is the largest lie in the world
05:41 Sources of opposition : Opposition is seriously talking about adopting the government formula 15-10-5 since it represents a balance of concessions.. no obstructive third and no majority
05:35 sources of the majority says the fixed part of the formula of the next government : There will be no obstructive third for anyone
Monday
10:34pm An unusual burning object that looks like a "Parachute" falls on the southern town of Zifte
10:00pm Qabbani for told Future TV:" The Lebanese media focused on the Syrian- Saudi as if it is the only event , but what Suleiman Hariri said was extremely important
09:40 pm Clash in Baalshmai in Mount Lebanon resulted in the killing of one person and the in injuring of two others. The Lebanese army rushed to the village and cordoned it off, in an attempt to contain the violence.
9:33pm Marwan Hamadeh: Jumblatt was the first in opening the way in all directions specially since his main concern is to spare Lebanon from heading to hell
8:39pm Patriarch Sfeir arrived at Al-Diman the Patriarchal summer headquarters where he will spend the summer
7:30pm Hariri meets Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel in Qoreitem for talks on Cabinet line-up.
06:53pm Jumblatt: Whatever to U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell? Where is the sweet talk of U.S. President Barack Obama on the ( Israeli ) settlement and the need to freeze them ?
05:25 Bizjournals.com - A federal bankruptcy judge in New York has approved a reorganization plan from General Motors Inc. despite some outcry from dealers in Florida and other states
05:20 pm PM-designate Saad Hariri accus
