Under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Mr. Michel Pharaon, Fransabank Group, headed by Messers Adnan and Adel Kassar, launched a project entitled: "China’s Tourists to Lebanon", during a press conference held at “Adnan Kassar Edifice for Arab Economy” in Beirut, on the 12th of October 2015. The conference was also attended by His Excellency Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Lebanon, Mr. Jiang Jiang, and in the presence of mayors, heads of Lebanese economic organizations, hotel and restaurant owners, leaders of the tourism sector in Lebanon, along with the delegation coming from China to visit Lebanon representing leading Chinese travel agencies, in addition to press and media representatives.
The conference aimed at highlighting the project planned and executed by Fransabank Group to host these Chinese travel agencies in a tour all over Lebanon from 11 to 18 October 2015, organized by Sun Holiday Tours - a prominent Lebanese travel agency.
Also attending the event was a Chinese News Agency, Xinhua, which will have the event broadcast on Chinese media.
In his welcoming speech, HE Mr. Kassar stressed that Lebanon’s uniqueness lies in the country's historical and archaeological sites along with its cultural landmarks of ancient civilizations, coupled with hospitable people, enabling it to be one of the most important travel destinations for tourists in general and Chinese in particular. “We wanted to build on our unique personal ties and relations with China to serve Lebanon, support its tourism industry, and attract the most important tourists in the world, the Chinese," said Kassar.
Kassar extended a special thanks to HE Mr. Michel Pharaon, for being the driver of this project, and for believing in the great potential for Lebanon to promote tourism sector to China. He also thanked HE Mr. Jiang Jiang for his continued support and cooperation to further strengthen and develop the Chinese Lebanese ties, on all grounds.
Kassar highlighted in his speech the significance of Chinese tourists whether by their numbers or their importance. He added, “Many had doubts in the timing of this visit, where Lebanon is witnessing political deadlock and instability,” assuring that “overcoming crises and difficulties is always attained with a positive attitude, and achieving success is our motto in life.”
The patron of the press conference, HE Mr. Michel Pharaon welcomed the audience stressing on the importance of tourism sector in Lebanon, shedding light on a series of projects initiated by the ministry as the "Live Love Lebanon" campaign and other tourism projects, including rural tourism, religious tourism, "the Phoenicians Road", which all serve sustainable tourism, mentioning the "Silk Road", under which this project falls, is an initiative which aims to improve trade and economic relations between People’s Republic of China, Arab countries and the rest of the world.
“We have found it necessary to revitalize tourism relations with China especially that the two countries are connected by bonds of friendship, and the fact that Chinese tourism represents 10% of tourism in the world," he stressed, adding that "the Ministry of Tourism in Lebanon is very interested to invite the Chinese tourists to Lebanon. In this sense, we welcome the Chinese travel agencies who are among us today, looking forward to a lot of cooperation for the sake of mutual benefit."
Pharaon continued: "We are very proud of His Excellency President Adnan Kassar’s initiative and his invitation to Chinese travel agencies, welcoming them to discover tourism in Lebanon, and attract Chinese tourists, who represent 10 percent of global tourism industry size." Expressing his admiration and extending his thanks to HE Mr Adnan Kassar, in whom he found “honesty, readiness, professionalism, and efficiency to develop and organize Lebanese-Chinese relations, and activate it on the tourist level."
Pharaon pointed out that "the road of a thousand miles starts with a step, and we have already made our first step today in this conference," adding, "We hope that this will lead to further cooperation with China and its tourism industry." He commended the two Kassar brothers’ "extraordinary effort, which was the reason behind this outstanding success in a very limited timeline."
At the end of the conference, a cocktail party was held in honor of the audience.