Abboud: Lebanon safe to visit

Fadi Abboud, the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, described the situation in Lebanon as "under control" and said that some incidents presented in the media were exaggerated. "Certainly I understand the position of the government [to protect its citizens] but I'm here to assure you that not everything you see on TV is true," he said. "The situation in Lebanon is not as bad as some media is trying to show." The UAE was one of four countries in the GCC to issue travel advisories following deadly clashes in northern Lebanon between supporters and opponents of the Al Assad regime in Syria. Last week, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued its second warning, less than a month after issuing its first. Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar also issued travel advisories. Mr Abboud said that while tourists from the four countries only comprised 7 per cent of all tourists last year, they accounted for nearly a quarter of tourism spending. "The most important tourists in Lebanon are the Gulf tourists and the Arab tourists in general," he said. Mr Aboud said it was normal for the country to have its ups and downs. "Lebanon is like having a crazy girlfriend if you know what I mean," he said. "There are always surprises there - not necessarily awful surprises, but a lot of pleasant surprises." He said that there was around-the-clock surveillance by police and security, and that cases where there have been issues of violence were "isolated incidents". UAE officials have been invited to a "fact-finding mission" to experience Lebanon on the ground, with hopes to reverse the travel advisory. "I think when and if they do that, they will feel a bit more at ease," Mr Abboud said.