Beiruting News

Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon announced the reopening Sunday of the lower basin of the famous Jeita Grotto in Mount Lebanon, following its closure in January due to a drowning accident.
Pharoan, who inspected the site Sunday, said "it has [accomodated] public safety measures at the highest level," and that "today was a historic day for Lebanon's tourism," the state-run National News Agency reported.
The famous location took a heavy blow in January when Egyptian tourist Mina Ashraf drowned in the grotto's river, bringing to light the lack of safety measures at the popular site.
Following the incident, the Tourism Ministry ordered the closure of the lower basin to the public until it became "100 percent safe for visitors."
Pharoan noted that even though Lebanon's tourism industry was negatively affected by the 8-month-long garbage crisis, it could be revived at "cultural and religious levels."
dailystar