The latest figures released by the Rafic Hariri International Airport (BIA) revealed that the airport traffic posted an improving performance in the first four months of 2023 against the same period of the year prior. In details, total number of passengers increased by 27.4% in the first four months of 2023 when compared to the same period of 2022, reaching 1,902,527 passengers in the former period. In addition, the number of aircraft increased by 20.7% year-on-year. On the other hand, the total freight handled by the airport decreased marginally by 2.7% year-on-year during the aforementioned period. The number of incoming passengers increased by 26.8% year-on-year and that of departing passengers by 27.9%, to reach 925,780 and 976,747 respectively in the first four months of 2023. In parallel, landings increased by 20.7% and take-offs by 20.6% year-on-year in the first four months of 2023, with 8,368 planes landing and 8,368 planes taking-off during the period. Regarding the freight movement within the airport, a total of 9,883 tons were imported and unloaded during the first four months of 2023, while 7,689 tons were exported and loaded. The first mentioned activity posted an increase of 9.7% while the latter posted a 15.1% decrease on a yearly basis in the first four months of 2023. Looking at the performance of the BIA during April 2023, we notice a 36.8% increase in the number of passengers year-on-year to reach 541,676 passengers. Additionally, the number of aircraft increased by 22.7 % between April 2023 and April 2022. On the other hand, total freight handled by BIA decreased by 6.4% year-on-year in April 2023. This in turn shows an improvement in the Eid/Easter touristic season between 2023 and 2022. The number of incoming passengers increased by 30.9% year-on-year and that of departing passengers by 43.8%, to reach 281,685 and 259,991 respectively in the fourth month of 2023. In parallel, landings increased by 22.9% and take-offs by 22.6% year-on-year in the fourth month of 2023, with 2,215 planes landing and 2,214 planes taking-off during the month. Regarding the freight movement within the airport, a total of 2,728 tons were imported and unloaded during the fourth month of 2023, while 1,818 tons were exported and loaded. The first mentioned activity posted an increase of 8.7% while the latter posted a 22.6% decrease on a yearly basis in the fourth month of 2023. At the level of tourism, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism, the total number of tourists arriving into Lebanon during the first quarter of 2023 increased by 29.0% from figures from the same period of 2022. The total number of tourist inflow in Q1 2023 reached 274,787 up from 212,950 in Q1 2022. The upwards trend in tourist inflow into Lebanon is expected to extend into the Eid/Easter season as well as the coming summer season which multiple sources forecast to be highly successful. This comes as Lebanon is on track to recover its tourism sector, widely regarded as the national economy’s backbone. This recovery follows a plan of developing different fields in the sector notably guesthouses, eco-tourism and religious tourism among others as well as a decentralization and interconnectivity plan for different regions in Lebanon. However, due to the political vacuum in the presidential seat as well as a destabilization on the southern border of the country, tourism inflow could potentially be affected. In details and looking at the distribution of tourists incoming by continents, Europe had the biggest share with 39.4% of total incoming tourists. Arab countries came in second with a share of 30.6%, followed by America with 16.3%, Asia with 6.4%, Africa with 4.2%, Oceania with 3.2% and other nations with 0.0%. It is worth noting that an increase in tourism inflow was noticed almost from all continents. In details, Asia saw the biggest increase with a jump of 69.9% year-on-year in Q1 2023 against Q1 2022. The second highest increase in the number of incoming tourists came from Europe with 37.7% followed by America with 26.5%, Oceania with 26.3%, Africa with 17.5% and Arab countries with 16.8% between Q1 2023 and Q1 2022. On the other hand, the number of incoming tourists from other nations saw a drop of 55.7% year-on-year in Q1 2023 against figures from Q1 2022, as per data from the Ministry of Tourism.   (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Bank Audi, Lebanon Weekly Monitor, 8-14 May 2023