Prime Minister Saad Hariri opened on Tuesday the second expansion phase of Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut. This move aims at easing congestion at the airport, especially during the highly active summer days the country is witnessing.

Six new scanners were installed in the departures area. The first phase in July had brought 12 new General Security counters to the 22 that were in the departures area. Also, the first International Security Forces checkpoint was removed. Passengers are now request to proceed to the boarding pass section, then to the General Security checkpoint.

Hariri said: “As a government, we will do additional work in cooperation with the relevant ministries to meet the travelers’ needs and secure a more enjoyable transit through the Rafic Hariri Airport.” He added: “We must continue to work to improve and develop the airport, and I thank the ministers concerned.”

This comes in line with a growth in the number of arrivals to Lebanon. According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism, over half a million visitors traveled to Lebanon in Q2 2019. Stakeholders are optimistic and expect over two million tourists this year, bypassing 2010’s record.