According to the daily “L’orient Le Jour”, the operator of the Tax Free Shopping service to tourists “Global Refund” announced that visitors coming from Saudi Arabia are the ones who spent the most in Lebanon during the 1st semester of 2008, representing 15% of the total tourist expenses.

Visitors coming from United Arab Emirates spent 15% of the total tourist expenses, followed by tourists coming from Kuwait (11%), from Jordan (8%) and lastly from Egypt (6%).

The biggest share of expenses occurred in Beirut (80%), then in the region of Metn (14%), and last but not least in Keserouan (3%).

Finally, 67% of the expenses were bound to clothing, 13% to watches, and 5% to perfumes and cosmetics.