A brand new cruise ship Orient Queen II with capacity of 700 guests will set sail early in July. On Thursday news was announced by Merhi Lines with the Lebanese Minister of Tourism Fadi Abboud.
In the statement released after the meeting, Mr Abboud announced that marine tourism should attract more tourists in Lebanon. He said that this cruise ship will encourage more operators to run trips from Beirut.

CEO of the cruise operator Mr. Merhi Abou Merhi, reveal the Itineraries for 2012 visiting Mykonos, Bodrum, Limassol, Rhodes and Marmaris. This cruise ship will boost tourist position of Lebanon in the Mediterranean region said Mr. Abou Merhi.
“The ship will be running nonstop cruises from July to October,” said Lina Zarif, marketing manager at Abu Merhi Cruises.

Regarding the News about decline of tourists in Lebanon Mr. Abboud said tourists from four Gulf Cooperation Countries, which issued warnings to their citizens against visiting Lebanon last month, represent less than 10 percent of the total number of visitors.
“But these tourists have high spending capacity and are the main shoppers in Lebanon,” he added. Abboud said he would be discussing lifting the travel warnings during a visit to the UAE Monday.