Lebanese President Michel Aoun expects a significant influx of tourists this season since the country's national security level surpasses that of the European continent, the presidential press office said on Tuesday
BEIRUT (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st May, 2019) Lebanese President Michel Aoun expects a significant influx of tourists this season since the country's national security level surpasses that of the European continent, the presidential press office said on Tuesday."President Michel Aoun expressed hope that the coming tourist season will bring a high number of tourists to Lebanon due to the fact that the security level surpasses the European one," the press office said.
Speaking about the nationwide unrest related to the government's possible budgetary changes, Aoun noted that such economic steps "will return Lebanon to the best positions in the Middle East." According to the press office, the president believes that citizens do not yet understand the importance of the measures.
In April, Lebanese media reported that the government intended to introduce a number of amendments when forming the new state budget that might include a reduction in salaries for public servants, an increase in taxes, and a decrease in pensions and medical insurance.
These reports provoked mass strikes by the country's trade unions, employees of the central bank, teachers, judges and social security officers. In early May, retired military personnel set up a tent in front of the government building in protest against the measures. The activists demanded fair reforms and called on the government "to not try filling the budget deficit from empty sources."
According to experts, the amendments considered by the Lebanese government could be adopted by the cabinet to meet the requirements of European donor states, which pledged $12 billion in loans as aid to Lebanon at a summit in Paris last year. One of the conditions for the provision of funds is to reduce wages.
