Lebanese Private Sector Network: ‘Foreign Visitors Are Addicted to Lebanon… It Feels Absolutely Safe’ – Featuring Laura El-Khazen Lahoud, Minister of Tourism, & Daizy Gedeon, Award-Winning Filmmaker & Journalist
June 9, 2025
Got a moment with Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism, Laura El Khazen Lahoud, at the @lebanese_private_sector Policy in Action event in Beirut recently, to discuss safety, security and tourists returning to Lebanon.
Her message was extremely positive, despite Israel still occupying locations in South Lebanon, Ms Lahoud said reforms are being undertaken by the new government that should ensure security and safety.
“Under the leadership of the President and the Prime Minister and with this new government, there is a renewed hope…,” Ms Lahoud told me.
“All the embassies are slowly revising, relaxing and starting to lift, all the foreigners who are living here absolutely love it. They don’t want to ever leave. It feels absolutely safe.”
Join me in Lebanon this summer. I am planning a big one to celebrate a milstone birthday 🥳 ✊🏼🇱🇧❤️
#LebanonWorks #PolicyToAction #longlivelebanon
English Script:
Daizy: Minister, congratulations first of all, it’s a pleasure to actually have the opportunity to speak to you. We’re at a very important event. Lebanese Private Sector Network event and what we’re seeing for Lebanon is growth and change. Since January, there’s been an incredible energy change and attitude change. Tourism has been the bedrock of this country. You have an important ministry, and there’s so many people who want to come to Lebanon, not even Lebanese. I have a lot of friends around the world who would love to come here, but they’re asking how safe it is, and of course, my opinion is I’ve got my children here. They’ve just come over. I believe it’s safe. Let me just ask you on the security question. What is your response to people who still have this fear?
Minister Laura el Khazen: So under the leadership of the President and the Prime Minister and with this new government, there is a renewed hope, and because they are taking the necessary steps and making the right decisions, it’s a government that’s going to do all the necessary reforms.
Daizy: We’re talking about security, and all of…?
Minister Laura el Khazen: We’re talking about everything, structures, laws, relationships. We’re talking about everything. But the reforms don’t take place overnight. So, it takes time, it takes a lot of diplomacy. Also, the geopolitics are changing around the world. And so, we’re adapting to the constant changing situation. But as you can see, the biggest wealth of Lebanon is its own people. Of course, we have the most beautiful country. I mean, in spite of all the different crises we’ve had, there has always been, you know, an incredible cultural life and new restaurants opening all the time and you go to them and they’re full and all the foreigners who come to Lebanon, they have such an amazing time. They get addicted. Lebanon is an experience. It’s not just a country. You have to get to know the people…
Daizy: And that really changes it. But on a security level, do you think…There are still warnings in place. The American government, the Australian government, the British government, foreign governments.
Minister Laura el Khazen: All the embassies are slowly…
Daizy: Revising?
Minister Laura el Khazen: Revising, relaxing and starting to lift, all the foreigners who are living here absolutely love it. They don’t want to ever leave. It feels absolutely safe. We are taking all the necessary reforms. We feel the bad times are behind us, and we’re looking towards the future, towards, you know, renewing, improving, improving the infrastructure. Especially we’re going to work closely with the Lebanese Private Sector who’s, you know, a very important partner.
Daizy: And last question, it’s going to be a boom of a summer, already everyone is planning to come. So it’s exciting to consider what’s coming up. You’ve had 100 days now, basically, since you were ministers, what do you feel your greatest challenge is, in being able to execute your policies or the plans that you may have already been forming?
Minister Laura el Khazen: Yes, challenges? I’m not thinking about the challenges. We’re just going forward, working. Of course, there are challenges in any work. It’s just, you know, we’re working very fast. You’re saying it’s 100 days already. So much has been done. At the airport, everyone’s noticing the changes. We’re talking about things that nobody ever talked about before. So a lot has happened in these 100 days. And with the help of the Lebanese themselves, with the private sector, we’re going to get them.
Daizy: Right. Thank you very much Minister
