Lebanon packs a lot into its modest borders: ancient cities, Roman
ruins, luxurious ski resorts, bucolic charm and Islamic architecture
are just the start. Lebanon is culturally rich too, with a religious
and social diversity that has sometimes led it to trouble.
Lebanon fell off the tourist map when it disintegrated into civil war
in 1975. It is now slowly recovering its infrastructure. If you're interested
in the history of the region and want to see how Lebanon is striving
to rebuild itself (Beirut's Downtown area, in particular, is undergoing
major redevelopment), now is a good time to visit.
Many foreign visitors now finding their way to Lebanon are package
tourists. Independent travellers are not as common, but are growing
in numbers, and all travellers are made to feel welcome. The Lebanese
are genuinely hospitable towards strangers and are not shy of inviting
travellers into their homes.
Full country name: Republic of Lebanon
Area: 10,452 sq km
Population: 4.4 million
Capital City: Beirut (pop: 1.5 million)
People: Arabs, Palestinians, Kurds, Armenians
Language: Arabic, French, English, Armenian
Religion: 60% Muslim, 40% Christian
Government: republic
Head of State: President Emil Lahoud
Head of Government: Prime Minister
GDP: US$15.8 billion
GDP per capita: US$4,078
Annual Growth: 3%
Inflation: 3.5%
Major Industries: Agriculture, banking, construction, tourism
Major Trading Partners: Saudi Arabia, EU, UAE, US
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