Lebanon Country and Tourist Information

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) presents Lebanon Travel Guide. This post is about Lebanon Country and Tourist Information. 

Location
Middle East.

Area
10,452 sq km (4,036 sq miles).

Population
3.9 million (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
375.6 per sq km.

Capital
Beirut.
Population: 1.17 million (2003).

Government
Republic.

Language
The official language is Arabic, followed by French as the second language. English is widely spoken. Armenian is spoken by a small percentage of the population.

Religion
Islam and Christianity are the main religion. Islam (predominantly Shi’ite)
accounts for approximately 59.7% of the population’s beliefs. Christian denominations, mainly Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian and Protestant, account for another 39%. Other religions account for the remainder (including a very small Jewish community).

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Telephone
Country code: 961. Telephone booths are accessible for local and international calls. Payphone cards are available from post offices and kiosks.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies and there is coverage througout the country. Cellular phones are widely used and are available for hire to visitors.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in Beirut, Tripoli and most major towns.

Media
Lebanon’s broadcasting scene is well-developed and diverse, reflecting the country’s pluralism and divisions. Lebanon was the first Arab country to permit private radio and television stations, but the government controls who may operate stations and whether or not they can broadcast news. Several stations are owned by leading politicians.

Post
Post to Europe and the USA usually takes from one to two weeks.

Press
• There are more than 30 daily newspapers published in Arabic, Armenian and French.
• Daily Star is published in English.
• There are several English-language weeklies, primarily Monday Morning.
• The best-selling Arabic dailies are Al Anwar, Al Dyar, Al-Mustaqbal, An Nahar and Al Safir.
• The most important daily in French is L’Orient-Le Jour.

Radio
• Radio Liban is state-run.
• Voice of Lebanon, Radio Delta and Radio One are commercial stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2010 - December 2011 period.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Orthodox Armenian Christmas.
7 Jan Ashoura.
9 Feb Feast of St Maroun.
9 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet's Birthday).
10 Apr Good Friday.
12 Apr Easter Sunday.
17-20 Orthodox Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
6 May Martyrs' Day.
25 May Resistance and Liberation Day.
15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
22 Nov Independence Day.
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Orthodox Armenian Christmas.
9 Feb Feast of St Maroun.
26 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet's Birthday).
2 Apr Good Friday.
4 Apr Easter Sunday.
2-5 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
6 May Martyrs' Day.
25 May Resistance and Liberation Day.
15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin.
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
22 Nov Independence Day.
7 Dec Islamic New Year.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Muslim feasts are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2010 - December 2011 period.
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Orthodox Armenian Christmas.
9 Feb Feast of St Maroun.
26 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet's Birthday).
2 Apr Good Friday.
4 Apr Easter Sunday.
5 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
6 May Martyrs' Day.
25 May Resistance and Liberation Day.
15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin.
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
22 Nov Independence Day.
7 Dec Islamic New Year.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Orthodox Armenian Christmas.
5 Dec Ashoura.
9 Feb Feast of St Maroun.
15 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet's Birthday).
22 Apr Good Friday.
24 Apr Easter Sunday.
1 May Labor Day.
6 May Martyrs' Day.
25 May Resistance and Liberation Day.
15 Aug Assumption of the Virgin.
30 Aug
31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
22 Nov Independence Day.
6 Nov
7 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Contact Information:

Ministry of Tourism
550 rue de la Banque Centrale, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: (1) 746 256.
Website: www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb

Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon in the UK
21 Palace Gardens Mews, London W8 4RB, UK
Tel: (020) 7229 7265.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530.

Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon in the USA
2560 28th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 6300.
Website: www.lebanonembassyus.org

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