We’ve been witnessing in the last couple of months several projects and initiatives preparing the country for the summer season and the significant number of tourists who are expected to visit during this season.
A new approach was taken earlier this week by the Ministry of Interior with a focus on the tourists and visitors: A tourist hotline to assist travelers during their stay in the country, whether with their questions or complaints or in case of accidents.
استحدثنا خطا ساخنا خاصا بسياحنا المنتظرين وهو 1735. هذا الخط الموضوع بتصرف قسم الشرطة السياحية، جاهز لاستقبال شكاوى السياح في حال تعرضوا لاي نوع من الحوادث في اي منطقة كانوا، لتتخذ القوى الامنية التدبير المناسب.@LebISF
— Raya Haffar El Hassan (@rayaelhassan) May 22, 2019
The Minister of Interior, Raya Hassan announced the launching of this hotline in a tweet, saying:
“We have introduced a hotline exclusively for our expected tourists and its 1735. This line is handled by the Tourist Police Department, ready to receive tourists’ complaints in case they were exposed to any kind of accidents in any area they are so that the security forces can take the appropriate measure.”
Both the Interior and Tourism Ministries have been working to prepare this hotline. They issued jointly a memo to municipalities across Lebanon to make preparations for tourists expected to arrive this summer, according to Minister Hassan.
The Tourist Police Department shared with The Daily Star, a local media source, that with this new hotline, visitors can make calls that may be related to several aspects, like to complain about being overcharged by sellers or to report falling a victim to a crime.
Lebanon is expected to receive a huge number of tourists this year, including from the Arab countries, especially from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia that had banned their citizens to travel to Lebanon. Saudi Arabia lifted its travel warning back in February, after a 15-month ban, and the UAE is expected to do so any time now as recently promised.
Many officials have been working on several projects to manage this expected high number of summer tourists, including the ongoing Beirut airport’s project aiming at facilitating the influx of travelers to and from Lebanon.
If you are among those planning to visit us this summer, save the number 1735 under Lebanon Tourist Police on your cell phone. Lebanon is readying to make your stay a most pleasant one.
For ideas about what to do in Lebanon during your stay, check our suggestions on Road Trips, Spots to go Clubbing, Romantic Gateways, and unusually charming Brunch Places.