Al-Achkar Calls on Tourism Sector to Close on August 4

The president of the Federation for Tourism Industries Pierre al-Achkar issued a statement on Friday calling on the tourism sector to close on the occasion of the first anniversary of Beirut Port blast.

He announced the “solidarity of the entire tourism sector” with all those affected by the explosion “especially the families of the victims and martyrs.”

Al-Achkar pointed out that “the tourism sector is the most affected by the explosion among the economic sectors.”

He called on the tourism sector with its various institutions to close on Wednesday, August 4, in solidarity with the sector itself and the families of “the victims and martyrs” in their just and national cause.

Al-Achkar also called on hotels and resorts to stop working for one minute at the moment on which the explosion happened “because of their inability to close” and urged them to “refrain from organizing parties and music.”

The dramatic blast occurred at 6:07 pm on August 4 a year ago, causing at least 207 deaths, 7,500 injuries, and $15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.