The fragile economy of Lebanon, heavily reliant on tourism, faces a dire threat as escalating regional tensions lead to a mass exodus of foreigners and expatriates. The country's economic woes, already compounded by a financial collapse in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Port explosion in August 2020, have now been exacerbated by the recent assassinations of high-profile figures, sparking fears of a full-scale war.

As several countries, including the US, UK, France, Italy, and Turkey, have urgently advised their citizens to leave Lebanon due to the escalating threat of regional conflict, scores of people, particularly Lebanese expatriates visiting for summer, along with some foreigners, rushed to the airport to leave the country.

Tourism had begun a slow recovery until October 8 when Hezbollah started attacking Israel from Lebanon’s southern border in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"We had reservations planned from October 8 until August 2024; 90% of them were canceled. I have been in this field for six years, but I have never experienced something this bad. We are even considering a plan B, given the current unbearable situation," Elie Louka, a Lebanese tour operator from the Beirut-based Explore Lebanon Tours agency, told The Media Line website.

"Our main target has always been European and American tourists, who, due to the situation, have been asked to leave the country or prefer not to risk it. Since May, I have received only a few reservations from Lebanese expatriates, who request tours during the summer for the 'wedding season.' So, we generally work once or twice a week, and we are truly struggling," said Khaled Bashashi, a Lebanese tour operator from the agency Lebanon Trips and Tours, based in Beirut.

In Lebanon, the local currency has lost over 95% of its value, unemployment has soared to nearly 14%, more than half the population lives below the poverty line, and the banking sector has ceased lending and attracting deposits.

"Lebanese people are used to war and are trying to live 'normally,' as I am currently, but we are all so tired of this situation. We have daily power shortages, we fear retaliation in Beirut (which was targeted last week), and we do not have real shelters. We may use underground parking and warehouses, but they are not even well-ventilated,” Bashashi added.

Viviane Nasr, a Lebanese American citizen, decided to open the business City Sightseeing Lebanon, but since October, she has faced financial issues and is considering moving the business to Qatar.

"There is nothing left here, but we still need time to organize everything to move elsewhere, probably to Qatar. As an American citizen, I get texts every day from the embassy, but I am not ready to leave the country immediately. I have my business here, my family, and friends. I won’t leave now, and many others won’t either," she stated.