Lebanese tourism minister hails Qatar's support
BEIRUT: Lebanon's Minister of Tourism HE Laura Lahoud has hailed the State of Qatar's continuous support for her country and lauded the deep-rooted Lebanese-Qatari relations.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), she emphasized that one of the Lebanese government's top priorities is the return of Arab tourists to Lebanon and its commitment to strengthening strong relations with Arab and GCC states. She noted the special ties between the Lebanese Republic and the State of Qatar and called on Qatari citizens to visit Lebanon.
The minister said that the Lebanese government is taking all necessary steps to restore confidence in Lebanon, both domestically and internationally, under a new presidential term and a new government focused on strengthening the rule of law and constitutional institutions.
She also affirmed Lebanon's decision to strengthen and extend the state's authority and that of the Lebanese army over the entire Lebanese territory, in order to maintain security and ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and tourists.
Lahoud pointed out that her country's government is undertaking significant reform measures to regain trust after the successive crises the country has endured. It has also launched numerous initiatives to promote tourism, most notably enhancing airport security measures and monitoring prices to attract visitors, she added.
She explained that the Ministry of Tourism's plan emphasizes the importance of year-round tourism in Lebanonâ€'not just during the summer seasonâ€'through collaboration with the private sector, especially given Lebanon's rich tourism assets, including natural beauty, as well as medical, cultural, and eco-tourism.
Lebanon is preparing to host a series of cultural and artistic festivals and events during the upcoming summer season, which will enhance the country's appeal as a preferred tourist destination and encourage more visitors to come, she added.
The Lebanese Minister of Tourism expressed her optimism for a promising summer season in Lebanon, with expectations of a significant increase in the number of Arab and international tourists eager to experience the country's diverse tourism offerings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
QA, leading Qatari banks sign QR4.5 bn financing deal
Tribune News Network Doha For the first time in 28 years, Qatar Airways (QA) has signed a landmark agreement with leading local Qatari banks led by QNB to provide QR4.5 billion in strategic financing. The financing will be provided by domestic banks in Qatar. The syndication was fully underwritten and led by QNB Group as the sole and exclusive Book Runner, Global Coordinator, Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Structuring Bank, while the lending banks include Ahlibank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Dukhan Bank, QIB, and QIIB. This new agreement will see an innovative approach taken whereby local banks lend in Qatari Riyals in both conventional and Islamic tranches and commercial terms in line with international benchmarks for a strategic financing transaction of this nature. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr Badr Mohammed Al Meer said, 'Qatar Airways' latest purpose-driven partnership demonstrates our trust in the operational excellence of the Qatari banking sector. We are honoured to collaborate with the leading banks of Qatar as we continue to further our commitment to fulfilling the Qatar National Vision 2030. We thank the financial institutions that have played a vital role in shaping our journey, offering support that has helped us reach new millstones. We believe such strong and resilient partnerships remain essential for driving industry innovation and expanding global connectivity.' QNB Group Chief Executive Officer Abdulla Mubarak Al Khalifa said, 'We are pleased to have been selected by Qatar Airways for this prominent role. This appointment underscores QNB's expertise in structuring complex financing solutions and its commitment to supporting the growth objectives of our clients and supporting Qatar National Vision 2030.' As Qatar Airways continues its ambitious fleet and network growth strategy, it remains firmly committed to supporting local institutions, enhancing economic development, and contributing to national prosperity. With this agreement, the national carrier also aims to stimulate greater collaboration between the aviation and the banking sector, paving the way for innovative financial structures tailored to the airline's evolving needs while promoting national economic resilience.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
QIA, Msheireb Properties sign deal for sustainable urban development
QNA Doha Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Msheireb Properties have signed a strategic partnership to accelerate the expansion of sustainable urban projects in Qatar. Under the agreement, QIA will become a strategic shareholder in Msheireb Properties, joining Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, which retains its majority stake of 51 percent. QIA has acquired a 49 percent stake in Msheireb Properties, underlining its confidence in the company's pioneering approach and integrated model for developing sustainable and human-centric smart cities. The partnership aims to fast-track innovative, human-centric real estate initiatives aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country's drive for economic diversification and environmental sustainability. It also aligns with QIA's mandate to support the development of a competitive Qatari economy and support the advancement of Qatar's Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). The collaboration opens new avenues for Msheireb Properties to expand its award-winning model, following the success of Msheireb Downtown Doha, the first fully redeveloped and sustainable city district in the world. The partnership reinforces Qatar's ambition to lead as a global hub for sustainable evelopment, especially in light of international efforts to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. As cities worldwide race to reduce emissions, this Qatari-backed partnership signals a bold move to lead the booming smart cities sector, with sustainability at its core.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
QIB successfully issues sukuk worth $750 mn
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), rated A1 by Moody's and A by Fitch, successfully issued a $750 million sukuk with a profit rate of 4.803 percent and tenor of 5 years on June 3. The profit rate was equivalent to a credit spread of 80 basis points over the US Treasury Rate, which was well inside QIB's fair value and lower than secondary market spreads of all Qatari banks, reflecting the positive perception of international investors around QIB's credit quality. Moreover, QIB's profit rate was the lowest achieved by a GCC bank for a senior unsecured 5 year issuance in 2025. QIB announced its intention to issue a Sukuk on Monday morning and conducted calls throughout the day with European, Asian and Middle Eastern accounts. Initial investor feedback was encouraging and allowed QIB to open the order book on Tuesday morning. The order book quickly grew to peak at $1.7 billion, representing an oversubscription rate of 2.3 times, one of the highest levels of demand seen for Sukuk issuances. The robust order book enabled QIB to confidently tighten the pricing by 35-40 basis points from Initial Price Thoughts in one iteration to 80 basis points over the US Treasury Rate. Investor diversity was broad and comprised of banks, private banks, fund managers and agencies from all over the world. Acting as joint lead managers and book runners were Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Bank ABC, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dukhan Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC, KFH Capital, Mashreq, QNB Capital, QInvest, SMBC, Standard Chartered Bank and The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector. Commenting on the issuance, QIB Group Chief Executive Officer Bassel Gamal said, 'QIB is proud of another successful transaction in the international capital markets, where it has built a reputable name and large investor base from around the globe. The strong demand for our Sukuk underscores the faith investors have in robust economic position of the State of Qatar's and strong financialfundamentals of QIB.'
