Lebanese Tourism Minister Avedis Guidanian receives exclusive interview from Xinhua in his office in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on Feburary 20, 2019. (Xinhua photo)

by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tourism Minister Avedis Guidanian said that the priority for Lebanon in the short term is to promote the country's tourism in the Chinese market.

"We aim at promoting Lebanon's tourism in two Chinese cities for the time being since the country is too big," Guidanian told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Guidanian said that Lebanon has a variety of attractions which a big pool of Chinese tourists will be interested in.

"Lebanon is characterized by its four seasons and by having activities that are compatible with all these seasons," he said.

Guidanian said that the Lebanese tourism ministry, in coordination with the Chinese embassy in Lebanon, has already cooperated with China's National Tourism Administration in arranging full tourism programs for tour operators in China to invite them to Lebanon.

The minister added that Lebanese travel agencies have also invited tour operators in China to come to Lebanon.

"The latest group of tour operators from China came three months ago and they were impressed with Lebanon and its touristic attractions," the minister said.

Guidanian said that the tourism ministry is planning on promoting Lebanon in China through social media.

"We can promote Lebanon through social media on websites owned by tour operators who can send videos about our country to their clients," he said.

"This would bring great results because clients tend to ask for the opinion of tour organizers when they want to go on vacations," he added.

Guidanian said that the ministry is also aiming at promoting Lebanon by inviting Chinese TV Channels to come to, write and take photos about Lebanon.

He added that the tourism ministry will also take part in exhibitions taking place in China in a bid to be aware of what Chinese tourists are mostly interested in when they come to Lebanon.

"Our infrastructure and atmosphere must be ready for the Chinese tourists," he said.

One of the most important steps to be taken by the ministry in the coming few days, according to Guidanian, is its plan to meet with airline companies from nearby countries to arrange combined tourism programs with Cyprus, Dubai, Jordan and Egypt.

"This way the Chinese tourist can come to the Middle East and experience two destinations at the same time since he is traveling a long distance," the minister said.

Guidanian said that opening up Lebanon's tourism to the Chinese market is not an easy task.

While it is easy for Chinese tourists to have access to the Lebanese visa, Lebanon faces many challenges in promoting its tourism sector to the Chinese.

"What we need in Lebanon are Lebanese tour guides who know very well how to speak Chinese," he said.

Guidanian noted that opening up to a new market is not an easy task. "We need two to three years in preparations to receive a new market," he said.