Picture via NowLebanon
Every time the summer is here, we are reminded that the beaches in Lebanon are becoming for the rich and that the entrance fees to beaches and pools are even more expensive that the previous year, yet somehow we have new resorts opening every year and the beaches are getting more and more packed.
We know for a fact that people are not getting wealthier in Lebanon, so it’s either people are willing to spend a big portion of their salaries to go for a swim or the numbers are exaggerated. I think that while entrance fees are unbelievably high at certain resorts, there are a lot of cheaper alternatives and free beaches that few of us know of.
K-Lynn Fashion show at C-Flow Beach Resort
However, this doesn’t justify the outrageous prices that we have to pay for beaches that are illegally occupied and exploited. The numbers are scary and there doesn’t seem to be a proper way to resolve this issue except setting up high taxes on these properties and forcing their owners to pay substantial amounts of money to cover our debts (Or in Lebanon’s case, go into some of the politicians’ pockets who will reinvest them in some of these illegal beach resorts they “own”).
Picture from Al-Akhbar
Many Lebanese are fed up with this reality but that’s one of these issues in Lebanon that is very hard to tackle as there are way too many parties involved.
The ministry estimates the total area of intrusions in this region to be more than 2,247,884 square meters (m²). They include 1,651,707 m² of reclaimed sea, and land facilities taking up to 162,383 m². Mount Lebanon’s share of aggressions totals half that of the country’s coastline. [Link]
The problem is that we pay so much and it’s illegal to claim part of the sea and make people pay to make use of it.
it’s not about the amount, whether it’s 2$, 5$ or 30$ we should not pay a single penny for something that is supposed to be free!
if people wanna swim in a pool they pay for it, but resorts has no right to close down a public beach and make you pay for it! not to mention that you pay to get bothered by loud music all day long
they turned our beaches into fake places with a 24h party ambiance and our shallow society likes it.
i went to one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in Europe and it was for free! no stupid valet parking, no security, no loud music , no VIP bed for idiots…
very natural places with only the sound of the wind and waves! this is what a beach should be no more no less.
first blame goes to every single Lebanese that goes to private beaches and support them…
Totally agree with Rachel’s comment. Same thing. I’ve been travelling in Europe for 10 years now and saw many many beaches (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal) and all are free, maintained, clean …
Also, isn’t disgusting to smoke in a swimming pool !!! For God’s sake, why are we always different, sadly in a bad way, than everyone else on this planet …
Chapeau bas
There are many free beaches that are surprisingly kept clean by the municipalities, so overpriced beach resorts are not exactly forced upon us. My hometown of okaibe has one of the best streches of sand and it is a public beach. I visited the public beach in jbeil the other day and was impressed with all their maintenance efforts 😀 There is also that big coastal beach clean up they have been having yearly
no one to blame except the stupid people who go there and keep those places running and making money. shouldnt there some kind of movement to boycott the beaches!!!! morever, the same stupid attitude applies to nightclubs. Havent you been to nightclubs in Europe, or even in Dubai!! not all of them treat you in such cheap or disgusting way as in Lebanon.
In some clubs abroad, they are open to everybody, and you just pay for your drink, and you’re not even obliged to drink. I know that there are still some exceptions abroad who are expensive, but at least, they also have many other options who are affordable!
Nothing will change in Lebanon unless the people do something to change it, starting from our corrupted leaders! they have been there and will remain there since no one is doing anything about it. What a wasted country we have!