Lebanon's tourism industry pays price for Syria war Lebanon is reeling from the spillover of war in neighbouring Syria, frequent sectarian clashes, postponement of elections, the absence of government and the impact of half a million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The country's beaches, superb Roman and Phoenician sites and legendary nightlife are barren. Early this summer, the six oil-producing Gulf monarchies sounded the Lebanese tourism season's death knell when they told their citizens to avoid the Mediterranean country, for security reasons. Images and soundbites