{"id":11410,"date":"2025-06-09T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/2025\/06\/09\/lebanese-private-sector-network-foreign-visitors-are-addicted-to-lebanon-it-feels-absolutely-safe-featuring-laura-el-khazen-lahoud-minister-of-tourism-daizy-g\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T11:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T11:26:15","slug":"lebanese-private-sector-network-foreign-visitors-are-addicted-to-lebanon-it-feels-absolutely-safe-featuring-laura-el-khazen-lahoud-minister-of-tourism-daizy-g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/2025\/06\/09\/lebanese-private-sector-network-foreign-visitors-are-addicted-to-lebanon-it-feels-absolutely-safe-featuring-laura-el-khazen-lahoud-minister-of-tourism-daizy-g\/","title":{"rendered":"Lebanese Private Sector Network: \u2018Foreign Visitors Are Addicted to Lebanon\u2026 It Feels Absolutely Safe\u2019 \u2013 Featuring Laura El-Khazen Lahoud, Minister of Tourism, &#038; Daizy Gedeon, Award-Winning Filmmaker &#038; Journalist"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DKq1CHuzX81\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DKq1CHuzX81\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\"  xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DKq1CHuzX81\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Daizy Gedeon (@daizygedeon)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\t<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap is-cnvs-dropcap-bordered\">Got a moment with Lebanon\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnder the leadership of the President and the Prime Minister and with this new government, there is a renewed hope&#8230;,\u201d Ms Lahoud told me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll the embassies are slowly revising, relaxing and starting to lift, all the foreigners who are living here absolutely love it. They don\u2019t want to ever leave. It feels absolutely safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Join me in Lebanon this summer. I am planning a big one to celebrate a milstone birthday \ud83e\udd73 \u270a\ud83c\udffc\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udde7\u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>#LebanonWorks #PolicyToAction #longlivelebanon<\/p>\n<p>English Script:<br \/>\nDaizy: Minister, congratulations first of all, it&#8217;s a pleasure to actually have the opportunity to speak to you. We&#8217;re at a very important event. Lebanese Private Sector Network event and what we&#8217;re seeing for Lebanon is growth and change. Since January, there&#8217;s been an incredible energy change and attitude change. Tourism has been the bedrock of this country. You have an important ministry, and there&#8217;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&#8217;re asking how safe it is, and of course, my opinion is I&#8217;ve got my children here. They&#8217;ve just come over. I believe it&#8217;s safe. Let me just ask you on the security question. What is your response to people who still have this fear? <\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;s a government that&#8217;s going to do all the necessary reforms. <\/p>\n<p>Daizy: We&#8217;re talking about security, and all of\u2026?<\/p>\n<p>Minister Laura el Khazen: We&#8217;re talking about everything, structures, laws, relationships. We&#8217;re talking about everything. But the reforms don&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;re full and all the foreigners who come to Lebanon, they have such an amazing time. They get addicted. Lebanon is an experience. It&#8217;s not just a country. You have to get to know the people&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Daizy: And that really changes it. But on a security level, do you think\u2026There are still warnings in place. The American government, the Australian government, the British government, foreign governments.<\/p>\n<p>Minister Laura el Khazen: All the embassies are slowly\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Daizy: Revising?<\/p>\n<p>Minister Laura el Khazen: Revising, relaxing and starting to lift, all the foreigners who are living here absolutely love it. They don&#8217;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&#8217;re looking towards the future, towards, you know, renewing, improving, improving the infrastructure. Especially we&#8217;re going to work closely with the Lebanese Private Sector who\u2019s, you know, a very important partner.<\/p>\n<p>Daizy: And last question, it&#8217;s going to be a boom of a summer, already everyone is planning to come. So it&#8217;s exciting to consider what&#8217;s coming up. You&#8217;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?<\/p>\n<p>Minister Laura el Khazen: Yes, challenges? I&#8217;m not thinking about the challenges. We&#8217;re just going forward, working. Of course, there are challenges in any work. It&#8217;s just, you know, we&#8217;re working very fast. You&#8217;re saying it&#8217;s 100 days already. So much has been done. At the airport, everyone&#8217;s noticing the changes. We&#8217;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&#8217;re going to get them.<\/p>\n<p>Daizy: Right. Thank you very much Minister<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daizy Gedeon (@daizygedeon) Got a moment with Lebanon\u2019s Minister of Tourism, Laura El Khazen Lahoud, at the @lebanese_private_sector Policy in Action&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,35,37,33,1],"tags":[110],"powerkit_post_featured":[],"class_list":["post-11410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-daizy-gedeon","category-israel-hamas-war","category-israel-hamas-war-live-updates","category-middle-east-news","category-uncategorized","tag-lebanon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11410"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daizygedeon.com\/news-blogs-and-cultures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=11410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}