REPORT: The 2013 Byblos Summer Festivals kick off

           
Byblos International Festivals Committee held Monday a press conference at Byblos Sur Mer Hotel, in Jbeil, to announced the launching of the port city's summer festivals for 2013, in the presence of caretaker Ministers of Tourism and Culture, Fady Abboud and Gaby Layyoun, the state-run National News Agency reported.              

The festivals are scheduled to start from June 30 and last until July 27.             

In a word delivered on the occasion, Abboud congratulated Jbeil for being chosen best Arab city for 2013. "This proves that the residents of Jbeil seek to turn it into a tourism city par excellence," he said.           

"All this is happening amid a difficult regional juncture and we cannot forget some attempts to implicate Lebanon into Syria's events. Missing opportunities have become a Lebanese specialty," he regretted.               

He called upon the heads of the Lebanese festivals' committees to work on setting comprehensive packages at affordable prices to attract more Arab and foreign tourists.            

He deprecated the taxes imposed on the festivals, noting that he had broached this issue at the cabinet.           

He also revealed that an exhibition and festivals center will be established in Dbayeh, warning that Lebanon is under threat of losing conferences and expositions.


For the full report please click on the VIDEO above