Diaspora tourism is being seen as a fast-growing segment in the travel business and many tourism promotion agencies are encouraging their countrymen abroad to rediscover attractions back home.

For countries such as Lebanon, Iran, India and Turkey diaspora tourism holds big promises. For example, there are more Lebanese living outside Lebanon in it.

Mona Haddad Fares, director of the Lebanese government’s tourism promotion department, estimates the number of foreign-based Lebanese and people of Lebanese origin to be close to 20 million.

"We are conscious of their importance. We have been planning a television advertising campaign to encourage them to visit Lebanon for holidays," Fares said.

Lebanon’s current population is put at less than five million.

The diaspora segment is seen as crucial for local tourism as foreign visitors.