Tuesday, December 05, 2006

The Damage Has Been Done!

It doesn't matter anymore if the opposition decides tomorrow to ask its protesters to return home and to seek a political solution (like the one that is floating right now which might just end the political impasse, a suggestion by PM Seniora to accept a 19-9-2 Cabinet line-up), the damage has been done!

Pierre Ashkar, the head of the Federation of Tourism Syndicates, mourned Tourism in Lebanon and claimed that it died in 2006 as a "martyr". Hotel reservations around the country have went from 90%, to 50% when Hizbullah threatened to take to the streets, and now 0%.

Here comes the more painful piece of news: It is projected that in the next two months, 15,000 employees in the tourism industry will be laid off.

15,000 livelihoods, 15,000 families, 15,000 dreams...imagine the ripple effects of such mass layoffs on the country. Where will all the 15,000 Lebanese men and women go? What will be their alternative? And this is only in the tourism industry, then how about in the retail industry?

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."

11 comments:

Matt said...

Just want to commend the lebanese for being a more open society than some of the more hardcore extremist middle eastern countries. Even with a slow economy, things will surely get better.

Matt
Affiliate Marketing

Yaman said...

That's interesting, Doha. Did you forget to mention that the reason for this drop in tourism was the Israeli war on Lebanon, not the protests by Hizballah? I hope your message is not "okay everybody, get ready for the White Man, we have to behave!!"

Raja said...

oooh yaman, what a breath-taking observation! Doha, FGA, and those 15,000 unemployed people live to impress "the white man." (oops, sorry I forgot to capitalize)

except... wait. facts on the ground tell me otherwise. Facts, yaman, tell me that the overwhelming number of tourists that visit Lebanon are actually Lebanese expats and the "dark man" from those desert kingdoms to our south.

please yaman... the sort of language you used in this particular comment of yours does not belong on this blog. it belongs over at the Angry Idiot's blog.

As for the war in the summer, well... I don't even want to go there. All I have to say is the following: just as Hizballah is blameless for the protests and its consequences today, it is blameless for the carnage and destruction wrought upon the country in the Summer. You see, Hizballah is always blameless. How could it be blamed? For it is the party of God on earth, lead by the Victory of God on Earth and supported by God's followers on Earth.

raed said...

killo feda l sayyidd...
ta ta ta ta3 ta ta3 !!

Anonymous said...

The real damage is not economical, it is psychological.

People are starting to talk about civil war and getting militias, and the number of street fights is rising (apart for the Sassine fight which was intra-Christian, all of these fights are started by Shia militants in non-Shias neighbourhood)

turtlecurls said...

My sympathies. And the sympathy of everyone I know.

Cheri

Anonymous said...

buy viagra


viagra onlinebuy viagra


viagra online
generic viagra
generic viagra

fantu❤ said...

This looks absolutely perfect. All these tinny details are made with lot of background knowledge. I like it a lot. This was a useful post and I think it is rather easy to see from the other comments as well that this post is well written and useful.
louis vuitton handbags california
louis vuitton handbags care
louis vuitton handbags department stores
louis vuitton handbags from previous seasons

Unknown said...

It is really a big damage for the country

Clenbuterol

Unknown said...

I am very happy because I can get this really good information
I hope, there are many other news that can attract my attention like one of these articles
Thank you very much for being willing to share information with us all

Mengenal Ciri-Ciri Kanker Payudara Stadium 1 Cara Mengobati Gondokan Cara Mengobati Infeksi Jamur Pada Vagina Cara Alami untuk Menghilangkan Kutil Obat Usus Buntu Cara Menghilangkan Nyeri Sendi Biaya Operasi Usus Buntu Obat Gatal Kemaluan Perbedaan Benjolan Di Payudara Cara Menghilangkan Koreng

URGENT LOAN OFFER WHATSAPP +918929509036 said...

Do not use all of these Private Money Lender here.They are located in Nigeria, Ghana Turkey, France and Israel.My name is Mrs.Emily Michael, I am from Canada. Have you been looking for a loan?Do you need an urgent personal or business loan?contact Fast Legitimate Loan Approval he help me with a loan of $95,000 some days ago after been scammed of $12,000 from a woman claiming to be a loan lender from Nigeria but i thank God today that i got my loan worth $95,000.Feel free to contact the company for a genuine financial contact Email:(creditloan11@gmail.com)