Lebanon war impact unfolds through key figures, highlighting shifts in travel demand, rising costs and measurable economic changes across sectors.
Two experts, Jean Abboud, president of the Association of Travel and Tourist Agents in Lebanon and Nicolas Chammas, secretary general of the Lebanese Economic Organizations, outline the scale of disruption across travel, tourism and the broader economy.
Travel disruption
According to Lebanon National News Agency, Lebanon travel sector faces severe contraction as war pressures drive unprecedented declines across tourism agencies nationwide. Jean Abboud, president of the association of travel & tourist agents in Lebanon (ATTAL) stated activity dropped nearly 80 percent, while agencies now focus mainly on canceling and modifying reservations. Currently, travel options remain limited primarily to flights operated by Middle East Airlines, alongside few services from other regional carriers. Additionally, limited operations continue through Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airlines, reflecting reduced connectivity and constrained aviation capacity across affected routes. Meanwhile, regional airspace restrictions have disrupted aviation flows, as closures force airlines to reroute flights and adjust operational strategies significantly. Consequently, passengers seek alternative routes safer, contributing to dramatic airfare increases reaching up to nine hundred percent on select tickets. Moreover, cancellations across Middle East surpassed 23 thousand since conflict began, severely impacting regional travel demand and supply overall.
Economic impact
According to Asharq Al Awsat, Lebanon economy faces severe pressure as ongoing war compounds years of financial and structural challenges. Nicolas Chammas, secretary general of Lebanese Economic Organizations, described the impact as huge, reflecting cumulative strain since the 2019 crisis. Moreover, Chammas told Asharq Al Awsat that economic growth reached 5 percent in 2025 after a contraction of 7 percent. However, he noted the year began on a negative footing, while the current conflict has significantly worsened economic conditions nationwide. According to the World Bank, the 2024 war cost Lebanon 14 billion dollars, equivalent to approximately 225 million daily. Using this benchmark, Chammas estimated the current war is costing around 100 million dollars each day across sectors. Furthermore, these losses stem from infrastructure damage, reduced activity and expenses related to sheltering and assisting displaced populations across Lebanon. Meanwhile, tourism and travel sectors remain among the hardest hit. Chammas stated hotel occupancy dropped below 10 percent, reflecting sharp declines across accommodation providers and tourism related businesses nationwide. Additionally, car rentals, furnished apartments and resort operations recorded significant downturns, highlighting widespread disruption across Lebanon hospitality landscape. Furthermore, industrial and commercial sectors also suffered, with commercial activity alone declining by approximately 25 percent during the conflict. Moreover, Chammas warned that if the war continues, economic growth could reverse into a contraction reaching up to 10 percent.
Key pullout statistics about the impact of war on Lebanon
- 80 percent decline in travel and tourism activity
- Below 10 percent hotel occupancy
- Up to 900 percent increase in airfares
- 23,000+ flight cancellations in the Middle East
- ~USD100 million daily losses in current war
- 25 percent decline in commercial sector activity
- Up to 10 percent of projected economic contraction if war continues
