Security Guarantees Prompt Saudi Arabia to Lift Travel Ban to Lebanon
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri and Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon announced on Wednesday that the kingdom lifted a travel ban to Lebanon after the security situation improved in the country.
Asiri in remarks to OTV said that the kingdom lifted the travel advisory issued against Lebanon.
Pharaon also confirmed the Saudi diplomat's statement.
“Saudi Arabia gave the green light for its nationals to travel to Lebanon as the security situation permits foreign and Arab tourists to visit the country,” Pharaon said in comments to LBCI.
The announcements come in light of a meeting between Asiri, Pharaon and Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq at his ministry's headquarters in Hamra.
A press release issued by the Saudi embassy in Lebanon stressed that “King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz is keen to safeguard the safety of Saudi nationals.”
The three officials discussed, according to the statement, the local developments and the security plans implemented recently in the northern city of Tripoli and the Bekaa valley.
The gatherers also tackled the problems that confronted Saudi citizens during their stay in Lebanon.
Pharaon and al-Mashnouq stressed that the government will continue to implement the security plan, vowing to safeguard Saudi nationals in Lebanon.
Asiri voiced hope that Lebanon would overcome the delicate situation it's passing through and meet all constitutional deadlines to be able to launch a “prosperous tourist season that would allow travelers to return to it.”
On Tuesday, media reports said that Saudi Arabia is likely to lift its travel ban at the end of May.
The report came in light of the return of Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Asiri to the country with his family on May 2 to resume his diplomatic duties.
Asiri had left Lebanon in September 2014 because “of the deteriorating security conditions,” as he stated at the time.
The Saudi diplomat stated upon his arrival in Beirut that there is no ban on visits by Saudi nationals to Lebanon.
Several Gulf states, including Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have repeatedly issued travel advisories, warning their citizens against visiting Lebanon due to the security chaos.
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